LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 144
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle, Eyes
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Chapter 144: Spirits of the Sacred Mausoleum (4)
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[You are now glimpsing one facet of the
While looking at the message windows, Theo felt that he could now vaguely deduce the identity of the
『Do you know what else the
Lodbrok’s voice still carried traces of laughter, but Theo did not miss the deep resentment and lament buried within it.
‘I don’t know.’
『The one who summons the
‘The End……!’
『And it is the
Keepers.
The Deluded God… they had referred to themselves as standing in opposition to the
This raises a curious question.
What, then, is the House of Ragnar, which has long prevented the
And what exactly is a
‘If Cassandra’s precognitive abilities synthesize the remnants left behind by the
『They are the only ones capable of opposing the
Theo’s eyes widened in surprise.
Does that mean…?
『Heh. At times, you will ■■■ and must ■■ in order to ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■……!』
Lodbrok’s voice was heavily distorted with noise, rendering it incomprehensible.
『Oh dear, am I still lacking the
Some kind of limitation constrained them making it difficult to elaborate but that alone was enough for Theo.
It seemed the solution to the quest would be left up to him to figure out.
‘I understand what you’ve said, for now.’
『That’s a relief.』
‘Then I suppose I’ll need to decide how to deal with these talkative ones now.’
Letting out a sigh, Theo glanced at the spirits still circling endlessly around him.
Fwoosh!
A blue light emanated from them.
* * *
The blue light wasn’t limited to the spirits.
It enveloped the entire mausoleum.
In other words, the solution to the quest was directly tied to this mausoleum.
– Hmm?
Theo locked eyes with the chattiest of the spirits.
He had already asked his companions to ignore him, no matter what strange behavior he might show from this point onward.
-Wh-what the? It looks like it’s staring at me right now!
-Come on, cut it out already. That’s just a coincidence, right? It’s been hovering around us for a while, but hasn’t even glanced at us once…
“Greetings.”
-Huh?!
-W-was that directed at us?
-I-it seems like it was!
“I wasn’t able to greet you properly earlier because I was with my companions. Allow me to introduce myself formally this time. I am Theo Ragnar.”
Theo’s polite introduction sent the spirits into an uproar.
-It was real!
-Wow! A human who can actually see us!
-How long has it been?!
-Wait a moment! Did he just say Ragnar?
“Yes, that’s correct.”
-He’s a descendant!
The first human they’d spoken to in centuries turned out to be the very descendant they had sacrificed so much to protect.
Their elation could not have been greater.
-As expected! The Ragnar line survived! Our sacrifice wasn’t in vain!
-Come on! We always believed in this, dammit!
-Hey, hey! Everyone already knew Ragnar was alive, so why all the fuss?
-Ah, even after living for centuries, you’re still clueless. Can’t you just indulge in the mood for once?
The spirits started bickering among themselves, but then one of them suddenly stared intently at Theo from the side.
When Theo tilted his head, wondering what was going on, the spirit squinted his eyes sharply.
-Are you really a Ragnar? Doesn’t seem like it.
-What’s he on about now?
-No idea. That guy’s been acting crazy forever—it’s not like today’s the first time.
-Black hair and crimson eyes! He’s clearly one of ours. What’s the problem?
-Tsk, tsk! You fools. While he shares our defining traits, you still haven’t noticed something strange?
Acting like a great detective, the spirit clicked his tongue and waggled his finger from side to side.
Theo stared back, trying to figure out what he was getting at.
-So what’s so strange?
-He’s too handsome. Way too handsome.
-…What?
-…What nonsense are you spouting now?
-Look at your own faces! Do you honestly think faces like yours could produce someone who looks like that?
-What’s wrong with our faces?!
-I mean, sure, with Keon’s mug, there’s no way someone like him could appear, but I think it’s entirely plausible with me! Is he my descendant?
-Don’t make me laugh, Yard. You’ve got half your face smashed into the ground and still think that?
-What did you say, punk? You’re the one looking like a potato that’s been rotting for three years!
-Me?! Listen, I’ve never thought of myself as particularly handsome, but out of all of us, I’m definitely the best-looking.
-What are you babbling about, idiot? I’m clearly the best one here!
-Ha, just being compared to you lot is insulting.
The murmuring and grumbling escalated.
-Hmm, I think I’m decent enough, don’t you?
The spirits had devolved into grabbing each other by the collars and squabbling among themselves.
Some of the spirits had stepped aside entirely, using the ice as a mirror to inspect their faces from various angles.
“……”
It was chaotic. Truly chaotic.
Theo, not wanting to get involved in any way, kept his mouth shut.
The so-called detective spirit, who had caused all this commotion, suddenly raised his hand.
– And! Here’s the decisive evidence that this guy isn’t our descendant!
– Now what!
– Lartes, if you’re going to keep spewing nonsense, just shut up and—
– He’s too polite!
– Huh?
– Huhhh?
– Do you honestly think any descendant of the Ragnar bloodline could speak so politely and gently?!
The detective spirit shot up, shouting loudly, and the other spirits quietly nodded in agreement.
– That’s true.
– Makes sense.
– For someone like that to be born as a descendant of us Ragnar, with our utterly broken personalities, is simply impossible.
– Then what does that mean? What about all the emotions I just felt? Give them back!
– Hey, what are you, really?
The spirits all turned their gazes squarely at Theo now, as if determined to uncover his hidden identity somehow.
Theo let out a sigh deep enough to crack the ground beneath him.
For them to say he couldn’t possibly be a Ragnar because he seemed decent and well-mannered…
What kind of reasoning even was that?
The problem was that Theo couldn’t really argue against it.
“Yes, I am a Ragnar.”
– No way, that can’t be true!
“Would I have even greeted you all if you weren’t Ragnars?”
– He’s a Ragnar!
– A truly remarkable Ragnar!
For a moment, Theo pondered seriously.
‘Ragnar… is this really okay as it is?’
Given that even his ancestors were like this, it should probably be fine moving forward as well.
Another sigh escaped him.
“More importantly, ancestors, why are you still lingering here in the mortal realm?”
– He’s asking why we haven’t passed on yet, huh?
“Yes. Do you perhaps have any lingering regrets…?”
– No, nothing like that.
– I do!
– Me too! Me too!
– Huh? You do? You’ve never mentioned it before.
– That’s because I was too embarrassed to bring it up. I’m worried that my stash of racy prints hidden under the bed might have been found by my wife.
– Oh, you too? Hey, same here!
With so many of them, every question asked seemed to spiral off in random directions.
Theo resolved to keep his focus steady so he wouldn’t lose his footing in the chaos.
“From what I see, it doesn’t seem like any of you are staying here because of lingering regrets.”
– Hey, descendant. You’re a Chosen, right?
“Yes, I am.”
– Try standing over there and swinging your sword once.
A sudden change in topic.
However, Theo felt that this might somehow be connected to why they remained in the mortal world.
Inwardly, he thought this was a good opportunity.
‘Maybe I’ll learn something about ancient swordsmanship.’
Even if it had nothing to do with the quest, just listening to the insights these spirits possessed would greatly benefit his swordsmanship.
“My skills are far too inadequate to demonstrate before such esteemed ancestors, but I will humbly swing my blade, hoping for your guidance.”
-Kyah, listen to him talk all fancy.
-You’d make a good politician, wouldn’t you? Hey, descendant, are you really a Ragnar? Are you sure your blood isn’t a little diluted?
“I’m a direct descendant, with inheritance rights to prove it.”
-Huh!
-Hey, any of you from the collateral branch without inheritance rights, just sit quietly on the side.
The spirits, in perfect order, sat cross-legged on the ground, their bright eyes fixed on Theo.
Swinging a sword before so many skilled individuals felt slightly embarrassing, but Theo calmly lifted Drake’s blade and assumed his stance.
At that moment, the atmosphere around him shifted.
-Oh, those eyes aren’t half bad.
-Yeah, he’s definitely a Ragnar!
-Shh! Everyone quiet! Let’s focus and watch.
The spirits stared intently at Theo, who seemed to display more talent than they had initially expected.
『They really are Ragnars. As soon as a skilled descendant shows up, their competitive nature instantly flares.』
‘You’re still watching?’
『Of course.』
‘Then why haven’t you said anything until now…!’
『I can’t be bothered talking to old geezers who just yap endlessly. Especially Ragnars—they turn into full-blown nags as they age.』
‘…….’
With no words to counter that, Theo pursed his lips and focused on the sword.
As all his senses sharpened—
Shhhh-shh-shh!
The movement began.
Thump-thump-thump!
Boom-boom-boom!
Each heavy beat of his heart reverberated, shaking the ground beneath him.
-Not bad at all.
He swung again, and again.
Each strike carried within a single breath split and fragmented, filling the cavern in no time.
The speed was so rapid that it was hard to believe it was done with a massive and heavy greatsword.
When the demonstration was over, Theo exhaled deeply.
“My skills are lacking, but that’s all for now.”
-Kyaaah!
-The Ragnar bloodline really hit the jackpot this time!
-Some details are still a bit rough, but your eye for the sword seems sharp enough!
-Hey, descendant! How old are you?
“This year, I’m sixteen.”
-Come on, that’s not what I meant. How old are you after regressing?
Theo roughly counted on his fingers.
“I was thirty-two before regressing, so… I suppose you could say I’m thirty-three.”
-Huh? That’s it? How many regressions is this?
“This is my first regression.”
-…….
-…….
-…….
Silence descended over the group of spirits.
Theo blinked, wondering if he had said something wrong.
-Your first regression? Really?
“Yes, that’s correct.”
-Hah! And yet, you have this level of understanding?
-There’s no reason for him to lie to us, after all. Hmm!
The spirits stroked their chins thoughtfully.
Then, they quickly exchanged glances among themselves.
-There are a few things I’d like to point out.
“Please, tell me. I’ll listen carefully.”
-When you start your first move, don’t you take a deep breath? At that moment, adjust the angle of your foot 15 degrees outward, and…!
-I think your sword movements could be a bit more concise. So, in other words…!
-This is a technique I mastered during my lifetime, but…!
-It seems to me that you have the thunder attribute in your magic power. Thunder is fast and intense, but also inherently risky. In that case…!
When 299 people each throw in just one or two comments, it’s enough to make anyone lose their mind.
On top of that, since every single one of them was excessively talkative, they all insisted on voicing their opinions, which only made things more chaotic.
Still, Theo tried his best to listen to all their advice and suggestions.
“Would this work better?”
-Oh, in that case, try tilting upward slightly.
-Also, redistribute your breathing a bit and direct the magic power toward your shoulder blades.
-Oh, that’s right. Use your neural pathways with thunder energy to stimulate your nervous system and draw out more strength…!
Before long, the scattered and disorganized comments of the spirits evolved into a full-fledged discussion.
They began collectively brainstorming how to refine Theo’s swordsmanship—how to make it cleaner, more powerful, and explosively effective.
Since each one of them had been a top master in their era, every suggestion they offered was sharp and insightful.
And as they combined their collective wisdom, the depth of their knowledge grew even further.
Theo found himself exploring a new world of swordsmanship, one he had never imagined before.
-A sword is the fusion of lines and circles. These lines and circles create surfaces. When surfaces layered upon one another it gives birth to form. When multiple volumes and masses are stacked, colors are then applied atop them…
-Thus, a swordsman can also be called a painter. In this sense, the sword becomes the brush, and the air becomes the canvas. Just as a painting reflects the scenery as seen by the artist, the sword’s techniques reflect the scenery seen by the swordsman…
-Paintings created by painters are incredibly diverse. There are landscapes, portraits, watercolors, ink paintings, oil paintings, and many different methods of expression beneath each category…
-Therefore, a swordsman must ponder how to reflect the world they see through their sword techniques…
The concept of the “One Plum Branch” began to make sense.
The sections of The Dialogue of the Lord of Plum Blossom Palace and Julius that Theo couldn’t previously understand unraveled like magic.
In alignment with this newfound comprehension, the Sword Sphere continued to spark inspiration.
Countless sword techniques appeared, stacked, bent, disappeared, and reappeared within Theo’s vision in an endless cycle.
The myriad secret arts Theo had mastered—Claw of the Nibelung, Wind Thunder God, Thunder Dragon Breathing Technique, Flying Blade Technique, and others—were shattered and reconstructed anew.
Boom.
It felt as if a sound like that had gone off in a corner of his mind.
Before he realized it, Theo had fallen into a trance.
Even the voices of the spirits had stopped reaching him at some point.
-Oh!
-I had a feeling he was starting to grasp something, but he’s already breaking through a wall?
-Didn’t he say he was still in his first regression? This guy really seems like the real deal.
The spirits stared intently at Theo, who stood frozen in place.
Across Theo’s pupils, tens—no, hundreds—of clusters of stars flashed by at incredible speed. It was as if his eyes were holding the entire cosmos, deepening endlessly.
They all recognized this as a realm they themselves had once traversed.
Understanding that he was gathering the fragments scattered by an explosion of enlightenment, they let him be.
A few of them even took it upon themselves to act as guardians, standing watch in case of any external interference.
Fortunately, no interruptions came. After some time, Theo overcame the lingering aftereffects and regained his composure.
-So, are you back with us now?
Theo, now aware of his surroundings, saw the 299 pairs of eyes gazing at him with smiles. He understood the situation.
They had taught him something invaluable.
It was a fateful encounter.
The kind of moment that others might spend their entire lives pursuing without ever achieving, yet one that had pushed Theo past such a threshold.
Six-Star.
Theo now knew precisely what he had achieved.
He was confident that, at this level, he could face even other Advanced Swordsmen in direct combat without fear of defeat.
If he added Dragonblood Awakening to this…
Perhaps he could aim even higher.
“Thank you.”
Theo bowed his head respectfully, performing a swordsman’s salute.
Thanks to them, he felt as though he had glimpsed an entirely new world.
Though there was still much to organize, it felt as though he had rebuilt everything he had previously possessed from the ground up.
-Hah hah hah! Of course, you should be grateful! It’s only natural!
-We’re just that incredible, aren’t we? You won’t get another chance like this!
-The more I look at you, the less you seem like a Ragnar. A Ragnar with proper manners, who knows how to be grateful? Such a rare and upright soul!
The spirits burst out in laughter, pleased, but the detective spirit cut in abruptly.
-You asked us earlier why we were still lingering in the mortal realm, didn’t you?
Theo’s head shot up.
The blue light was growing more intense.
-Follow me. I’ll show you. I think you, as a Chosen, might find it quite entertaining.