Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
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< Chapter 202: The New Dragon (2) >
The Fourth Training Hall.
Theo was training his stamina in this familiar space after quite some time.
It was because he had something to say to his followers.
“What are you going to do about it?”
Theo was now speaking casually to his followers.
Even though it felt a bit awkward, it seemed this approach made the vassals more comfortable.
Julius had suggested he speak more casually, and after giving it a try, the followers actually liked it.
They said it finally felt like the distance between them and the young master was gone.
Apparently, they had been fretting over not being able to close the gap all this time, to the point that Theo himself was surprised.
‘Before being the young master, they really see me as close to them. Like family.’
It gave him a slightly strange feeling.
“Yes!”
“Outside, there’s a huge commotion about this!”
“Master Theo... No! Young Master, shouldn’t you issue some kind of statement or express your resolve?”
The followers, interrupting their training, eagerly relayed the latest gossip trending in Winterer.
The three candidates, who were thought to have been eliminated from succession rights, had all declared their challenges.
Even those who had been grinding their teeth, preparing to become Laurel Sword Masters, announced their participation, causing an uproar.
Because of this, the event had even been given a flashy name:
-Soaring Dragon Battle (亢龍戰).
‘I thought something like this might happen, but this is faster than expected.’
It seemed likely that the Central Hall had organized this event to dispel the lingering unrest.
The position of one of the Nine Dragons held immense significance.
A swordsman renowned in the North.
A top-level expert recognized even on a global scale.
Someone who could unlock their mental domain and claim spatial authority.
All of these were descriptors pointing to them.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they start talking about the Upsurging Dragon Battle (登龍戰) after this.’
Theo sighed lightly as he thought of Hilda's group, which the Black Dragon had likely set as the next target.
Despite making inquiries here and there, there was still no substantial news about Wellington.
Realizing that his followers were still staring at him intently, Theo shook his head calmly.
“I have no intention of participating.”
“What? What do you mean!?”
“Young Master, isn’t it precisely you who should be sitting in that position?”
“What if the person who becomes the Soaring Dragon harbors other ambitions?”
They all jumped in place, as if it was their own issue.
Pfft.
The smile on Theo’s face grew even wider.
“This isn’t something to laugh about right now!”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Theo waved his hand dismissively, but he couldn’t erase the smile from his lips.
"Still, there's no need to worry too much. It's not like I haven't thought about it."
"Then?"
Theo simply smiled in silence.
This was a matter of politics, and there was no benefit in these followers knowing any further.
‘With my current skills, I do wonder if I could claim the Soaring Dragon’s position and how far I could go. But exposing my abilities right now would be dangerous.’
Public opinion regarding Theo’s abilities was divided.
Some speculated that Theo was probably just at the level of an Advanced Swordsman. Others acknowledged his rapid growth for his age but dismissed him as being overly hyped, likely barely qualifying as an Advanced Swordsman.
Some suggested he had reached the level of a Dragon Gate Swordsman, while others went as far as to speculate that he might have attained the level of a Laurel Sword Master.
His leadership in bringing victory to the White Armored Dragon Cavalry during the battle where the Black Iron Cavalry was annihilated and his sword clash with Granada at the frontlines served as supporting evidence for the latter.
However, these were all just rumors. None could reach a definitive conclusion.
Even the White Armored Dragon Cavalry, who might know the truth, kept their mouths tightly shut.
This only fueled speculation that Theo would appear in the Soaring Dragon Battle.
If he wanted to prove that he wasn’t lacking as the young master, showcasing his abilities in the Soaring Dragon Battle would be the perfect way.
Furthermore, if he were to defeat not only Kinkarnon but also the other contenders for succession, it would silence any disrespectful voices questioning his qualifications.
However, after long deliberation, Theo arrived at a single conclusion:
There was nothing to gain from it.
‘Even if they question my qualifications, it won’t shake my position. My father’s declaration is that absolute.’
With the Council temporarily closed, there wasn’t a single vassal who could disregard Kyle’s voice.
No one could challenge the declaration that seated Theo as the young master.
‘But if I reveal my abilities here, it’ll only give them something to nitpick.’
Even if Theo were to win the Soaring Dragon Battle, would the dissenting voices really subside?
Theo didn’t think so.
The complaints might quiet for a moment, but the discontented would eventually latch onto trivial faults.
If they couldn’t criticize his skills, they’d find fault in his achievements. If not his achievements, then his origins. After that, they’d nitpick his age, personality, or something else altogether.
Theo had no intention of giving them such ammunition.
‘Above all, becoming a Soaring Dragon would impose too many obligations and restrictions. It would make it difficult to pursue my goals in the East.’
This conclusion followed the announcement that Troiban’s territory would be granted as a direct domain to the young master.
Theo had already formulated detailed plans on how to develop the East and make it his foundation.
By appropriately utilizing his knowledge of the future, he was confident he could maximize its potential.
Even connecting the Floating Archipelago, the Bacchus territory, and the East alone would yield immense profits in trade.
But becoming a Soaring Dragon?
The Nine Dragons were fundamentally names representing the North. They carried the duty of protecting Winterer.
In other words, it would be challenging to shift his base to the East, and Theo had no intention of bearing such burdens.
In the end, participating in the Soaring Dragon Battle would bring more harm than good to Theo.
“Again with that smile….”
“Hey, give it up. He’s already made up his mind.”
“Looks like we won’t be seeing a battle for the young master’s title.”
The followers knew well that once Theo smiled like that, his decision was unshakable, and they gave up.
“A battle for the title? What’s that about?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? The showdown between you, Young Master, and Kinkarnon has been the hottest topic of all.”
“And?”
“And what do you mean, and? The stakes for that are huge! We were hoping to have some fun with it, but, tch!”
Watching the followers smack their lips in disappointment, Theo burst out laughing.
“Who were you betting on?”
“Who else could we bet on? Of course, it’s you, Young Master!”
“That’s right!”
“When it comes to loyalty, the Fourth Training Hall can’t be beaten! Hahaha!”
As he watched them laugh wholeheartedly, Theo felt a firm conviction.
‘I really can’t afford to lose these people.’
* * *
"Let’s set aside the Soaring Dragon Battle. I have something I want to talk about."
It was only after the atmosphere had somewhat calmed that Theo cautiously began to speak.
The followers tilted their heads curiously.
What was he hesitating so much to bring up?
“You know that I’ll be heading to the East soon, right?”
“Oh, that? Of course we do. Actually, we’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
“...?”
Theo tilted his head in confusion.
Did they have a request regarding the East?
However, the followers hesitated, exchanging awkward glances as if debating whether they should bring it up.
Eventually, one of them stepped forward with a determined expression.
It was Sybil from the South Gate Inspection Station.
Among them, the one who had first sparred with Theo and also became his very first follower stepped forward.
“Young Master, I know this might come across as an extremely presumptuous request—essentially a plea that could be seen as exploiting our connection—but still, um… I’ll just lay it all out plainly.”
“Go ahead. Don’t feel burdened.”
The others gestured to Sybil to hurry up, urging him with their eyes. Shutting his own eyes tightly, Sybil shouted:
“P-Please, take us to the East with you! We want to follow you, Young Master!”
“…!”
Theo’s eyes widened in surprise.
Taking the silence that followed as hesitation, Sybil hurriedly added more.
“Of c-course, we know very well that we are far from being adequate in your eyes, Young Master. We are still not worthy to stand by your side. But we haven’t just been sitting idly by all this time!”
Sybil’s trembling words began to stabilize. Now that he had started, the thoughts and emotions he had bottled up came pouring out like a flood.
“Every day, without missing a single dawn, we’ve trained with the hope of one day standing beside you, Young Master! We’ve also gathered to discuss swordsmanship and…”
“Pahahaha!”
Sybil’s passionate appeal was abruptly cut off by Theo’s uproarious laughter.
The followers stared at Theo with puzzled expressions.
-Why’s he laughing all of a sudden?
-No idea…
-Did we do something wrong?
Their anxious glances darted back and forth.
But Theo couldn’t stop laughing. It continued for quite some time, until tears welled up in his eyes from the sheer hilarity.
“I was actually going to ask you all for the same thing.”
Sybil and the other followers’ eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Theo smirked, curling one corner of his lips upward.
“Before I head to the East, I plan to accept a large number of applicants. Among them, those with talent will be assigned to the sixth squad of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry.”
“…!”
“…!”
“…!”
“Obviously, if I’m selecting applicants, wouldn’t it make more sense to choose people I’ve been close to for a long time? So, is anyone interested?”
Sybil was the first to shoot his hand up high.
“I am! Me! I... uwaaah!”
“Move over, you idiot! You’re blocking the Young Master!”
“Me too! Don’t forget me, Young Master!”
“Where do we submit our applications?”
Their eagerness to step forward, as if Theo might leave them behind, was so amusing that Theo couldn’t stop laughing.
He had to repeatedly tell them to calm down.
‘Still, it’s a relief that finding people won’t be difficult. I was worried they might refuse to go with me.’
While they expressed their gratitude to Theo, the truth was that Theo was the one who needed to thank them.
He had been fretting over how to assemble the sixth squad of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry, as well as how to gather capable individuals to help secure the East.
Of course, if he issued a large-scale recruitment announcement, many people would likely gather.
The problem, however, was trust.
‘A significant number of them would likely be spies for other factions.’
But with the followers from the Fourth Training Hall forming the core, there was little to worry about.
These were people Theo had been close with since before he gained fame, making them reliable.
In Ragnar, they had served as the "backbone" and had remained diligent in their training, keeping their skills sharp.
Bringing them along meant Theo could transplant Ragnar’s culture directly into the East, a significant advantage.
In addition to these followers, there were other groups Theo planned to bring to the East:
- The Kriemhild Knights from the Floating Archipelago.
- The direct troops of the Bacchus family head.
- The clans of the White Tower.
- And even the Dragon Corps.
‘On the way to the East, I’ll need to visit that place too.’
It was time to harvest the seeds he had sown across various locations.
‘The biggest problem, however, is how to form the sixth squad.’
This squad would essentially serve as the Young Master’s personal guard, and in the future, it was meant to become the core of Ragnar under Theo’s leadership.
It wasn’t something he could handle carelessly.
‘There’s only one person I can trust to take charge of the personal guard.’
But would that person agree to join him?
Theo shifted his gaze toward the White Armored Dragon Cavalry’s camp.
