Chapter 319

"Waaaah!"

"Ragnar! Ragnar!"

The Naga Tribe erupted in jubilant cheers at the sight of Theo and Lodbrok emerging from the forest. Their recovered vitality in such a short time was heartening yet bittersweet.

“I mustn’t let myself feel excessive pity,” Theo reminded himself.

He steadied his emotions, feeling a sense of calm as he turned his gaze to the Black Dragon. Their eyes met, and the Black Dragon gracefully approached Theo.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I have a request,” Theo said.

“Speak, my lord,” the Black Dragon replied respectfully.

Theo lowered his voice, ensuring the Nagas nearby could not overhear.

“I discovered several sites in the forest where early chimeras were created. There are likely more. I need you to lead the search.”

“That task suits me perfectly,” the Black Dragon replied confidently, giving Theo the response he had hoped for.

Although the army had already begun a search, there was no one Theo trusted more for this critical task than the Black Dragon.

“Additionally, the forest is littered with magical traps. Be cautious during your search.”

“Of course. Such matters are trivial to me.”

With a confident nod, the Black Dragon swiftly departed to begin his task. Theo’s gaze drifted to the former battlefield. Though still stained with blood, the area now seemed to hold a faint, renewed vitality.

In one corner, medics tended to the wounded, while other groups swiftly recovered the remains of the fallen. All that remained was for the rain to cleanse the blood-soaked ground.

“Terepun.”

Theo approached the Naga elder, who was in the midst of directing recovery efforts. Beads of sweat glistened on Terepun’s forehead.

“Have things been resolved?” Terepun asked in his usual gentle tone.

For a moment, Theo’s eyes lingered on Terepun’s right arm before he responded.

“Yes, there’s no need to worry about further attacks.”

The Tower Lord was still a concern, but with Nazariou’s involvement, Theo doubted there were any other high-ranking enemies nearby. If the Tower Lord had personally intervened, the Naga Tribe would have faced a grim fate before Ragnar reinforcements could even arrive.

“To think that dark mages still persist in this world…” Terepun muttered.

He seemed to believe the chimeras were the work of rogue dark mages, unable to imagine that the Mage Tower was behind such atrocities. Theo hesitated before speaking.

“It wasn’t dark mages. The chimeras were created by the Mage Tower.”

Terepun’s eyes widened in shock at Theo’s words. A heavy silence followed.

“...I suspected it might be possible, but to hear it confirmed…” Terepun trailed off, his voice tinged with disbelief and betrayal.

Having worked closely with the Mage Tower in matters of magic, the elder had never imagined they could commit such heinous acts. In truth, he had ignored the signs—the fragments of evidence within their magic that hinted at their involvement.

“How can we hold them accountable?”

Holding the Mage Tower responsible would require power, something the Naga Tribe sorely lacked. Even if Ragnar departed, the Tower could launch another assault at any time to silence them.

Yet, the thought of having Ragnar's forces stationed in the forest brought another thought to Terepun’s mind.

“Should we… submit to Ragnar?”

The idea of yielding to another power briefly crossed his mind. However, in the long history of the Naga Tribe, they had never served under anyone. Their independence was their pride, a tradition ingrained over centuries. Could he truly abandon that history for the sake of survival?

Terepun wrestled with this internal conflict.

“Terepun?” Theo’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Ah, no… It’s nothing,” Terepun replied, quickly composing himself. Yet, the ripples of doubt in his heart refused to subside.

“I’d like to speak with you privately,” Theo said, his expression grave.

“Very well. Follow me,” Terepun responded, hiding his unease.

Terepun led Theo to a partially ruined building—one of the few structures still standing. It was isolated, ensuring privacy.

“Please, sit. I apologize for the state of this place.”

Despite the dilapidated surroundings, it was the most suitable location available. Once inside, Theo spoke cautiously.

“The Mage Tower seemed to know something specific about the secrets of this sanctuary.”

“...!”

Terepun froze, momentarily speechless. He hadn’t anticipated this revelation.

“Is that true?” Theo pressed.

Terepun’s initial reaction was disbelief. He couldn’t imagine such a thing being possible.

“It’s not a lie,” Theo continued firmly. “I’m certain, which is why I requested this private meeting.”

Theo’s unwavering gaze and sincerity unsettled Terepun. He had never considered that the sanctuary’s secrets might have been exposed, much less that the Mage Tower would pursue them.

“How could this information have leaked?”

The question plagued Terepun. For years, the forest had been thought devoid of mysteries, with all its known secrets already fought over and exhausted by outside forces.

To the rest of the world, it was widely believed:

“There are no more secrets in the Naga Forest.”

The true mystery was known only to the tribal leaders, passed down orally to prevent any risk of leaks. No written records existed. So how could the Mage Tower have learned about it?

“Who could it have been? Everyone entrusted with this knowledge was of impeccable character…”

Terepun felt overwhelmed, his head spinning as confusion gave way to frustration.

“I didn’t want to believe it either,” Theo said, breaking the silence. “But with the Mage Tower now aware, they will stop at nothing to attack this place again.”

Theo leaned forward, his tone heavy with conviction.

“For the safety of the Naga Tribe, I must ask: What is the secret you are protecting?”

Terepun’s gaze turned cold as he studied Theo’s face. Doubt crept into his mind—was Theo, too, after the sanctuary’s secret?

Yet, there was no greed in Theo’s eyes. Only concern and resolve.

“Who is this man…?”

Curiosity would have been natural in this situation, but Theo’s eyes held only concern.

“Fine. It’s already a foregone conclusion that the secret is known. The only question is whether the Mage Tower is the only one aware of it.”

That thought led to an inevitable conclusion: the Naga Forest could face invasion again at any time. With that realization, the debate in Terepun’s mind resurfaced.

“Submission or alliance?”

From Ragnar’s perspective, there was no tangible benefit to maintaining an alliance. The reinforcements they had sent were merely to repay an old debt, and the alliance could be severed at any moment. If that happened, how long could the Naga Tribe hope to survive?

Terepun weighed tradition against the survival of his people.

“You seem deep in thought. Take your time to decide. I apologize if I’ve been too impatient,” Theo said, his tone respectful.

It was a considerate gesture, one that helped Terepun make his decision. As Theo stood to leave the hall, Terepun called out.

“...Please, don’t go.”

Theo paused, his hand on the door handle, and turned around. Terepun’s face still bore the marks of internal struggle, but there was a new resolve in his expression. Theo returned to his seat, watching Terepun intently.

“First, I have a condition,” Terepun said.

“Please, state it,” Theo replied, curious but attentive.

“Take responsibility for my people,” Terepun said, his eyes burning with determination.

Theo wasn’t entirely surprised by the request. Alliances were built on mutual benefit, after all. While Theo had not sought this alliance out of selfish gain, Terepun’s interpretation of an alliance was clear: submission. The Naga Tribe would subordinate themselves to Ragnar.

“I had already planned to station troops here, but…”

This was an unexpected windfall. The Naga Tribe had never been subjugated by anyone, nor had they ever willingly submitted. They were a proud and resilient people. Even if it would take years for the Naga to recover their former strength, this moment would go down in history.

And it also meant the path to the underwater city would finally be accessible. There was no reason for Theo to refuse.

“Very well,” Theo said simply.

At Theo’s agreement, Terepun stood, retrieved his ceremonial trident, and knelt before Theo. Presenting the trident with reverence, Terepun declared:

“Then the Naga Tribe pledges its allegiance to Ragnar. Though we are weak now, we will repay this kindness one day. Please, accept this offering.”

Theo looked down at the trident. It was a symbol of the Naga chieftains, passed down through generations. Theo extended his hand toward it.

“This is a symbol of your leadership. Continue to use it. And I humbly accept your pledge,” Theo said, taking Terepun’s hand and helping him to his feet.

Terepun let out a faint, weary smile. After wrestling with the decision for so long, finally voicing it brought a sense of relief.

“Let’s go to the sanctuary together,” Terepun said. “It’s best if I answer your questions after you’ve seen the secret for yourself.”

He rose but immediately swayed, his body clearly weakened.

“...You’re still not fully recovered. Please, take care of yourself first,” Theo said, quickly moving to support him.

Though Theo was curious about the secret of the sanctuary, Terepun’s health took priority. The elder’s body radiated an intense heat, like molten lead.

“My apologies,” Terepun murmured, his vision growing unfocused. It was no surprise he was exhausted. He had been tending to the battlefield with only minimal treatment for his injuries.

“A true model of leadership,” Theo thought, respecting the elder’s dedication.

He gently laid Terepun down and covered him with his cloak.

“Please wait here. I’ll bring someone to look after you.”

But before Terepun could respond, he had already slipped into unconsciousness. Theo stepped outside to find someone who could care for him.