LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 155
Chapter 155: Dragon Fang Corps (5)
Editor - Eyes
[All buffs have been deactivated.]
[You have fallen into a state of lethargy as a penalty.]
Theo, whose body felt like soaked cotton, forced himself to remain upright by leaning against Drake's blade as he scanned his surroundings.
Fortunately, thanks to [Vitality Amplification], he managed to endure.
However, he couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility that there might still be other hidden traps he hadn’t noticed.
Just then,
「Damn it all.」
A wooden-masked figure fell abruptly from the sky, seemingly escaping the battle with the Upsurging Dragon.
Crunch!
Hearing Arkt grind his teeth audibly, Theo chuckled.
Recalling the troubles caused by that figure made him feel an odd sense of relief, as though a weight had been lifted from his chest.
「You’re laughing?」
Arkt glared at Theo with a murderous gaze, his hand extending as if he intended to tear him apart on the spot.
Although Theo didn’t have the strength to even twitch a finger, he was not worried at all.
“Theo, my lord!”
Somewhere high above, Wellington’s voice rang out.
Then,
Theo quietly collapsed to the side.
Before losing consciousness, the last thing he saw was the overwhelming deluge of a tidal wave cascading down like a waterfall.
* * *
Murmurs...
-Kya! Feels great to move around like this after so long. I think I’ve still got it!
-Ugh, I feel like I’m dying. Who tells someone my age to fight like they’re still active duty? My joints are killing me.
-Look at him, though. His mouth says one thing, but he looks like he’s having the time of his life.
Chatter and laughter...
-Did you see how that one fought?
-Hah, did I just see it? I watched every move closely. They were incredible.
-The sword trajectories and techniques were just like the commander’s, right?
-But there was something new, too. Fast and sharp.
-Is it true this guy’s only been seriously holding a sword for a few years? His growth speed is insane…
-What’s even more astonishing is his understanding of the sword. Honestly, we could probably entrust everything to him and rest in peace.
-Rest in peace, huh.
-Hmm! Let’s take our time considering that, shall we?
.
.
Theo strained to open his eyes against the buzzing of the ghosts’ incessant chatter near his ears.
‘Where is this?’
He distinctly remembered killing Ode and Kali, but everything after that was a blur, as if plunged into darkness.
-Oh, he’s waking up. He’s waking up.
-This one’s no nobleman, for sure. Hahaha.
“Theo, my lord, are you feeling better?”
“Are you alright, Theo?”
Familiar voices beyond the murmuring ghosts.
Only then did Theo realize he was lying on a bed.
“Well? Ray?”
“How’s your body? Are you alright?”
“You’re not hurt anywhere? Not dizzy or anything? Huh?”
It was only after Wellington and Ray confirmed multiple times that Theo was simply exhausted that they finally sighed in relief.
Theo quickly checked his physical condition and smiled lightly.
‘Wellington showed up at the last moment.’
“It seems Cassandra managed to find both Lord Upsurging Dragon and you safely.”
“The little lady, who we thought had left, suddenly appeared looking so mature and started talking about this and that. You can’t imagine how shocked I was, Theo.”
‘I can imagine.’
From Wellington’s perspective, it must have been quite the shock. A shy girl who always hid behind Theo suddenly appeared as a composed and confident figure.
Unable to fully explain the story about the Sorceress Empress, Theo awkwardly scratched his cheek.
‘She must’ve used her foresight ability to locate them. Cassandra is the real hero this time.’
“So you came straight to rescue me.”
“That’s right. I never imagined you’d take down the Gravekeeper, the Bishop of the Sacred Demon Church, and even the leader of the Blue Crane Corps all by yourself.”
Theo merely grinned at Wellington, whose eyes burned with competitive admiration. It was clear that as soon as Theo recovered, Wellington would suggest they spar again.
“Where is Cassandra now?”
The fact that the two of them were here likely meant that Lezé and the Reaper Division had come too. If that was the case, it was obvious Lezé would be firmly stationed by Cassandra’s side.
As expected.
Wellington gave an awkward laugh, while Ray frowned with a displeased expression.
Was something going on?
When Theo asked again, Wellington sighed before answering.
* * *
Theo immediately headed to the room where Cassandra was resting.
However, Wellington and Lezé weren’t the only ones accompanying him.
It was a whole group.
-Hey, kid.
-Are you *really* okay? You’re not hiding some injury because it’s too embarrassing to admit, right?
-Raise your arm once. Your legs? How about your thighs? That last sword strike seemed like it took too much out of you!
-Next time you execute a Solar Strike, reduce the mana output to less than half. Your efficiency is way too low right now. You need to create a simplified version!
-Actually, I just came up with the most brilliant idea for that...!
‘If I keep listening, I think I might lose my sanity.’
Ignoring the ghosts trailing behind him and tossing out concerns and advice, Theo did his best to focus as he searched for another building.
Currently, they had returned to what they originally thought was a mausoleum but turned out to be a manor.
It was said that the Upsurging Dragon had defeated Arkt, who had fled the battlefield, and driven out both Troyban and the Sacred Demon Church.
Moreover, Theo’s achievements, which included dismantling the old Gathering of the Hidden Dragons, would soon be officially reported to Winterer and included in his merits.
And if Cassandra’s existence were to be brought to Winterer along with these accomplishments, Theo’s position would change to an extent that could not be compared to before.
‘Perhaps I might take the position of Captain of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry much sooner than expected.’
Selperd even speculated that, with this contribution, Theo might not only secure the rank of Advanced Swordsman but aim for even higher honors.
However, Theo could not bring himself to feel entirely pleased.
The reason was the news that Cassandra, ever since arriving at the manor, had been suffering from an unexplained high fever.
-She’s likely suffering from what’s called Divine Fever.
The ghost, reputed to be the most knowledgeable among them, read Theo’s thoughts and offered an explanation.
It was the old man who had once been defeated by Theo in a bet and had closed Ode’s eyes for him.
Theo had been shocked to learn that this ghost had once held the title of Deputy Commander.
“Divine Fever? What is that?”
-It’s a kind of aftereffect that comes from overusing this. If you used it for too long, you’d experience something similar.
The ghost tapped its index finger lightly against its own temple.
Theo’s eyes sparkled with understanding.
It was referring to the Upper Dantian.
“So the ability of foresight is also based on the Upper Dantian?”
-Most abilities that people typically call supernatural powers are rooted in that. Especially abilities that deal with time—they drain an extraordinary amount of mental energy.
“Ah.”
-That child, the one you call the Sorceress Empress, has been occupying Cassandra’s consciousness for far too long, disrupting the body’s balance. So you must act quickly.
-Yes, hurry! That child said there’s something she absolutely must tell you personally.
What could the Sorceress Empress possibly want to leave behind?
With such thoughts, Theo flung open the door to Cassandra’s room.
Inside, Lezé was present.
-Gasp!
-No matter how many times I see that face, I just can’t get used to it…
The Deputy Commander and the other ghosts hesitated and refrained from entering the room.
Even though they were concerned about Cassandra, they simply could not get accustomed to Lezé’s face.
How could Lezé’s face resemble that of the Captain, who was thought to have died long ago, so perfectly?
-With regression being a possibility, I suppose reincarnation is as well, though I’ve never seriously considered it.
-Still, seeing a face that identical... it’s just impossible to get used to.
-But wasn’t the Captain’s very existence erased because of the Deluded God’s curse? If so, their soul should’ve been destroyed or trapped somewhere. How could reincarnation even occur?
Lezé, oblivious to the ghosts’ stares fixed on her, spoke to Theo.
“I heard about it. You singlehandedly took down the leader of the Blue Crane Corps and the Bishop of the Sacred Demon Church. On top of that, you uncovered the Gravekeeper’s betrayal.”
Theo looked at Lezé for a moment without responding.
Judging from her expression, it was impossible to tell whether she was hostile or not.
Based on their previous encounters, he had assumed it would be difficult for her to be friendly.
*Swoosh.*
“…?”
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to take it?”
Lezé extended her right hand, offering a handshake.
After a moment’s hesitation, Theo clasped it.
*Squeeze.*
Her grip tightened significantly.
“Congratulations, Sixth Candidate. You’ve just gone from holding an empty title to being truly recognized as my ‘rival.’”
It was a warning: from now on, she would neither acknowledge him as a younger sibling nor go easy on him.
It was a sign of acknowledgment, but Theo heard it as praise for his growth and couldn’t help but smile.
“Is that so?”
“Oh? Smiling, are we? Do you even understand what it means to become my rival? It means I won’t see you as a younger sibling anymore. I’ll consider you an adversary fighting for the throne.”
“I understand.”
*Squeeze.*
This time, Theo put strength into his handshake.
“In fact, that’s what I’ve always wanted. To stand shoulder to shoulder with you and the others. To cross swords and claim that position—that’s what I’ve been striving for.”
“You little brat, you never let me win in words.”
Despite her grumbling, a smile had formed at the corners of Lezé’s lips.
She no longer seemed to care about their earlier clashes at the manor.
It was a cool-headed attitude.
Yet, she was still fiercely competitive when it came to the throne.
Theo found himself liking this side of Lezé’s personality.
‘This part of her is very similar to her past life. No wonder Magara couldn’t let go of her.’
Of course, Theo fully intended to reclaim the Grim Reaper someday.
As a victor’s trophy.
And he would do so with pride.
“Well, I’m off. Take care.”
Lezé patted Theo on the shoulder as she passed by.
"Hey."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Are you just leaving?"
"That’s right."
"Wasn’t Cassandra what you needed?"
"What are you talking about? What part of what I said didn’t you understand? Why would I covet a trophy that you protected until the end? If I lost it, then I lost it—no need to cling to it pathetically."
Lezé turned sharply on her heel.
"But be careful. You never know when I might come back to take it as a trophy again. Let’s go."
The Reaper Division quietly followed Lezé as she disappeared.
Defeat.
As a proud successor of Ragnar, acknowledging that must not have been easy for her.
Theo scratched his cheek.
‘Maybe I know their personalities and preferences, but I might not understand the true depths of the other successors.’
“You’re here… I see.”
Theo turned to look at Cassandra.
Her face was already drenched in cold sweat.
Theo gently wiped her face with a handkerchief he had nearby, speaking as he did.
"You said you had something to tell me."
"Yes. Before I go, I felt I needed to see you, Theo. I might not see you again in the future."
Her words carried layers of meaning.
Theo gave a bitter smile but couldn’t help wondering.
Even now, it looked as though maintaining her possession was taking a toll on her.
Could she see his smile properly when even using her abilities seemed beyond her now?
"You’re worried about me, aren’t you?"
"…A little."
"Please don’t feel that way. It would be an insult to the life I’ve lived."
Theo nodded in apology.
At this moment, Cassandra exuded the regal dignity of an emperor who had lived decades as the Sorceress Empress.
"Before I leave, I’d like to make one request of you, Theo, as an emperor."
"A request?"
"Could you bring me a pen and some paper?"
Theo didn’t know what she intended but retrieved paper and a pen from the bedside table and handed them to her.
Cassandra scribbled something resembling an address and passed it back to him.
"This is the location of a secret vault, accessible only to emperors across generations."
"…What?"
An unexpected gift.
Theo’s eyes widened in shock.
The Emperor’s Secret Vault.
It was a forbidden place said to house treasures not just from the empire but from across the world.
And now, it had suddenly been entrusted to him.
"The password is 66*7182-32. Make sure to remember it."
"Wait a minute. Why are you giving this to me all of a sudden?"
“This world will soon face a Great War. In such times, is there any point in leaving it for a future traitor who will usurp the imperial authority?”
“Even so, giving this to me…”
“The current emperor is already in a state where it wouldn’t be surprising if they passed away at any moment. And the next emperor will undoubtedly be this child. So, Theo, please keep this safe and open it for her when it’s necessary. That’s all I ask. But if even that feels burdensome…”
Cassandra’s lips curved into a playful smile.
“Shall I officially appoint you as the Vault Keeper under the authority of the emperor?”
“…Ha! Fine, fine. I’ll hold on to it for now.”
For Theo, the thought of receiving the vault felt less like gaining a treasure and more like shouldering a burden.
While the secret vault of past emperors would certainly aid in the competition for the throne, he couldn’t ignore the fact that this was essentially a “bribe” to ensure Cassandra’s protection.
‘Even if I ever need it, I already have Rodi’s vault. There’s no need to get greedy.’
『Hmm? My partner, you seemed to have a rather blasphemous thought just now. Or was that my imagination?』
‘It’s your imagination. I wouldn’t think such a thing.’
Feigning innocence, Theo brushed off the accusation.
“And among the items in this vault, there’s one thing you’ll definitely need.”
“Something I need?”
“Yes. The Wheel of Death.”
“How do you know about that…?”
It was something he had never spoken of to anyone.
Theo’s eyes widened in shock.
“The key you turned was none other than that wheel, and it has already begun to spin. Though the *Nameless Sovereign* is currently dormant, it won’t be long before it awakens. And when it does, it will rush toward the end to meet you. That path is unavoidable.”
“…”
“So, you’ll need to find the next card—the ‘Knight Commander Impaled by Dozens of Swords’—as soon as possible.”
“You’re saying that card is in the vault…?”
“Perhaps?”
Only then did Theo begin to grasp Cassandra’s intentions.
The Sorceress Empress wasn’t just leaving; she was trying to decode and prophesize the dream she had seen before she departed.
She was doing so carefully, without violating the causal laws too blatantly.
“I thought the person represented by that card was the Commander of the Resolution Squad and that the ‘Queen Who Lays Down Her Crown’ referred to you. Was I wrong?”
“It could be right, or it might not be.”
“What?”
"Didn’t I tell you before? The future is merely one of countless possibilities. What determines what that card represents is none other than you, Theo."
Her words were cryptic, their full meaning elusive.
But one thing was clear.
The ‘Knight Commander Impaled by Dozens of Swords’ card was something even Cassandra, with her foresight, could not easily pinpoint.
It was a card that would inevitably appear in Theo’s journey someday.
The three tarot cards he had seen in his past life were far from ordinary.
‘Who exactly was that grandmother who read my tarot cards?’
Cassandra spoke again.
“Please, don’t ever forget your current resolve and who you are now. Make a different choice than the previous bearers did. And after that…”
Cassandra, the Sorceress Empress, offered her final smile in this world.
“Let’s make sure to meet again with smiles on our faces.”