Chapter 289

Buzz!

Clang!

The sharp edge of the axe hurtled toward Theo with speed and precision. Even though it was a sparring session, Harald’s strikes were anything but gentle.

So, this is how the Harald family expresses gratitude?

Theo chuckled to himself. Sparring had always been a better teacher than solo training, but he hadn’t expected Harald to express his thanks in such a fierce manner. The only difference from earlier combat was the switch to a smaller hand axe, but even this seemed more challenging.

Harald’s massive frame wielded the axe like a lightweight toy. Despite the size of the weapon, his swings were quick and unrelenting. If anything, the smaller axe made Harald’s attacks feel even faster, as if compensating for its lack of weight with sheer velocity.

“Ah, it feels good to swing something light again,” Harald remarked casually, his grip on the axe shifting between short and extended holds, keeping Theo constantly guessing about the range of his attacks.

He’s using a weapon he isn’t even accustomed to, yet he wields it like an extension of his hand, Theo thought, impressed.

The axe moved with fluidity, almost as if alive, its trajectory both unpredictable and precise. Theo barely had time to admire the skill before Harald’s fists joined the fray. Sharp punches accompanied the axe strikes, each aimed with deadly precision.

“Getting hit by one of those would send me straight to the grave,” Theo muttered, dodging a particularly close punch that left his hair tousled.

The seamless combination of axe and hand-to-hand combat was unlike anything Theo had encountered. Most warriors, himself included, focused entirely on their weapon. But Harald’s approach disrupted Theo’s assumptions about what combat could be.

“In battle, especially on the field, you never know when a stray arrow will find you,” Harald explained, a sly grin on his face. “That’s why you use whatever you can—fists, feet, teeth, whatever works.”

The world around them shifted.

Suddenly, they were standing in Harald’s mental landscape—a glasslike space filled with shimmering reflections. In the distance, waves crashed against an unsteady shoreline. Behind Harald stood a fragile sandcastle, small and precarious, as if a single wave could topple it.

Ash’s face flashed briefly in Theo’s mind, the image intertwining with the vulnerable sandcastle.

“This ocean, ever-changing and relentless, is too cunning to hold back with just one axe,” Harald said, his voice resolute.

Another weapon materialized in Harald’s hand, this one larger and more imposing.

Whoosh!

With a sweeping motion, Harald cleaved through the surging waves. His massive fist shattered the remaining debris into harmless droplets.

“That’s why I rely on versatility—whatever tools I have, no matter how crude. Even if it’s just gums and teeth, I’ll use them.”

Harald demonstrated strikes with not just the axe but fists, kicks, and even grappling techniques. Each motion flowed into the next, creating a continuous rhythm that mirrored the unyielding tide.

“My weapon isn’t just this axe,” Harald continued. “Even if my methods lack elegance, I’ll always prioritize overwhelming victory.”

At that moment, the weapon in Harald’s hand transformed into a club. But to Theo’s eyes, it still overlapped with the axe, blurring the line between different tools. The realization sent a shiver down Theo’s spine.

Anything can be a weapon in his hands…

From axes to improvised tools that barely qualified as weapons, Harald wielded each with flawless mastery, adapting his techniques seamlessly.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The axe’s handle shifted positions in Harald’s grip, extending and retracting like a serpent as he controlled the weapon’s range with precision. Every edge and surface of the axe was utilized—blades, sides, even the butt—each attack scattering salt spray as if evaporating the ocean itself.

Shhhhhh—

The tide receded, leaving the waters calm. The serene sound of gentle waves replaced the crashing surf as Harald’s mental landscape dissolved.

“I’m hardly qualified to teach you anything,” Harald said, his voice filled with humility. “But I hope you took away something valuable.”

“More than I could have hoped,” Theo replied earnestly, bowing his head in gratitude.

Harald’s demonstration had fundamentally altered Theo’s perspective on combat.

I’ve become so fixated on the sword…

Until now, Theo’s attacks had always been rigidly categorized, each movement disconnected from the next. Harald, however, had shown him a style of combat as fluid and unbroken as the sea itself.

Still, Theo hesitated, his expression conflicted.

“Are you sure it’s wise to share this with me?” he asked cautiously. “Even if we’re not enemies, this knowledge feels like a strategic loss.”

Harald’s hearty laugh cut through Theo’s concern.

“Don’t worry about it. From this day forward, the Harald family will be blood allies of the Ragnar clan.”

“…!” Theo’s eyes widened in surprise.

What had started as a journey to oversee his succession had unexpectedly forged a powerful alliance.

“I declare it here: the Harald family will prioritize Ragnar above all else, even the empire itself,” Harald said, extending his rough, calloused hand.

Theo clasped it firmly. “I’ll gladly accept. And I swear to treat your daughter as my own sister.”

“Those are words I’ve longed to hear,” Harald said, beaming with satisfaction.

Bwa-ha-ha!

Harald’s booming laughter echoed across the village, waking its inhabitants. But his mirth was soon interrupted.

“Dad! Stop embarrassing me in front of the whole village!” Ash’s scolding voice rang out, effectively silencing him.

Even so, Harald’s grin remained unshaken.

“Do we need to keep this alliance secret?” Theo asked, considering the possibility of external scrutiny.

“The blood pact? No, there’s no need to hide it.”

“Then I’ll announce it during the succession ceremony.”

“That’s fine,” Harald replied nonchalantly, his attention already shifting back to Ash with a fond smile.

Theo, however, wasn’t ready to let the matter rest. “Let’s draft formal documents and make it official.”

Harald froze, his jovial demeanor replaced with a slightly exasperated look.

“…You’re more thorough than I expected,” he said, forcing a strained smile.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Theo replied, his tone light but resolute.

***

Thud! Thud!

A mountain of white documents sat precariously atop the desk in the clan’s main office. Among them, a single figure moved with inhuman precision, steadily reducing the pile.

It was the Black Dragon, Ragnar’s second-in-command. Until Theo’s status as the official Patriarch was solidified, the duty of overseeing the clan’s affairs fell to him as Kyle’s appointed successor.

“Who’s there?” the Black Dragon said sharply, his focus unbroken even as he sensed the faintest hint of movement outside the room.

“A carrier pigeon has arrived, sir. The message appears urgent.”

A shadowy figure, one of the elite operatives of the Black Snow intelligence network, stepped into view, placing a rolled parchment onto the desk before disappearing as swiftly as they had appeared.

Urgent?

Given the stringent information hierarchy, any correspondence reaching the Black Dragon directly would either be classified as top priority or require immediate action. Setting aside his current task, he unfurled the parchment and began to read.

No reply needed.

Class-1 monster: Viper, successfully hunted.

Blood alliance established with the Harald family.

Injured individual: request accommodation and preparations.

Settlement near the territory’s border.

Arriving within a few days.

The Black Dragon’s gaze lingered on the words. It was unmistakably Theo’s handwriting, concise and unadorned. Yet, the content was anything but ordinary.

A Class-1 monster? The Viper?

Theo had been sent to retrieve a Class-2 monster, a feat significant enough to bolster his claim to leadership. Instead, he’d hunted a Class-1 creature—a task so monumental it bordered on absurdity. Even the Black Dragon, who rarely doubted Theo’s actions, momentarily wondered if this was a jest.

But Theo wasn’t one for exaggerations or jokes, and the Black Dragon quickly dismissed the notion.

And a blood alliance with the Harald family?

The Harald Patriarch had been presumed missing, reportedly wandering in search of rare medicines for his ailing daughter. The fact that Theo had not only located Harald but secured an alliance with his family was an extraordinary accomplishment.

What exactly happened out there?

The Black Dragon burned the message after committing it to memory, the flames devouring the paper in moments. He leaned back, his mind racing.

Theo’s achievements from this journey must be framed to maximize their impact.

The Black Dragon pondered how best to present the news. The official narrative was simple: Theo had ventured into the Beastlands to prove his worth by subduing a Class-2 monster. The sudden introduction of a Class-1 creature would undoubtedly create a sensation.

But how do I spin this?

He drummed his fingers against the desk, mulling over the possibilities. Then, an idea struck him.

A lord who prioritizes the safety of his people over personal ceremonies.

It was a compelling image: Theo delaying his succession for the sake of the territory’s peace and security. While the Black Dragon found it satisfying, it still felt insufficient.

This wasn’t just any achievement. In the thousand-year history of the Ragnar clan, only the founder, Sigurd, had ever successfully hunted a Class-1 monster. That Theo had replicated such a feat was staggering. This would solidify internal loyalty among vassal families and intimidate external factions.

And even Kyle hasn’t done this.

Kyle, despite his unmatched strength, had always avoided hunting Class-1 monsters, wary of drawing attention from external deities or rival powers. Using this achievement as a tool felt almost sacrilegious to Kyle’s legacy, but the Black Dragon rationalized it quickly.

If anyone understands the importance of this, it’s Kyle.

Having resolved his hesitation, the Black Dragon moved swiftly.

“Summon the steward,” he commanded.

A knock came almost immediately, and the steward, dressed in immaculate attire, stepped inside.

“Did you call for me, sir?”

“The succession ceremony will be postponed,” the Black Dragon stated. “Post notices across the territory so everyone is informed. Additionally, prepare a building to accommodate important guests. Ensure it is immaculate.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Understood.”

As the steward departed, the Black Dragon’s voice rang out again, though no one else seemed to be present.

“Black Snow operatives, listen well.”

“Command us,” came the whispering reply from the shadows.

“Go to the settlement near the border. Assess Theo’s progress and provide an estimated arrival time.”

The room fell silent as the shadows dispersed, leaving the Black Dragon to his thoughts. He stroked his chin, his mind already formulating the next steps.

I’ll need to inform Lord Kirsion and Lady Cecilia.

If Theo’s strength was combined with a demonstration of filial piety, it would complete the image of the ideal leader.

The perfect hero for all to admire.

The Black Dragon smirked, the groundwork for Theo’s grand entrance already taking shape.