Chapter 217: East (2)

Just before meeting Kinkarnon.

Theo unsealed the Scepter of the Sovereign that his party had brought.

[The seal of the relic of the Ancient Dragon has been lifted, initiating the trial.]

When Theo opened his eyes, he found himself in a grand hall.

Underneath a dazzling chandelier, court musicians played their instruments while men and women, adorned in extravagant formal attire and masks, danced together in a ballroom.

Above them, a few steps higher, a man sat upon the throne with a languid expression.

Theo knew that face well.

Though he looked much younger than when Theo had actually seen him, his aura alone was enough to overwhelm him.

『Theo.』

— Yes. I will face him.

There was only one person in this world whose mere presence could make even Lodbrok’s voice tremble.

"Sigurd."

"Oh, you recognized me at once. Many descendants have come and gone, but hardly anyone has ever identified me so quickly."

A hint of interest flickered in Sigurd’s otherwise indifferent gaze.

The music and dancing that filled the hall had now faded into the background, insignificant to the two.

"By chance, I had the opportunity to see the ‘real’ you."

"The real me, you say? Oh, then you must have opened the White Tower? That wouldn’t have been easy—impressive."

The Sigurd standing here was nothing more than a shell, a remnant of what he had left behind.

"So, how is the me over there? If he’s living too comfortably, I might just have to give him a good smack on the back of the head."

"He’s been tirelessly fighting off the Outer Gods."

"So he’s been running around like mad? Puhaha! Yeah, no way he’d be slacking while leaving me here to suffer! That just wouldn’t do!"

The boredom in Sigurd’s expression gradually faded.

"But seriously, is he still dealing with that mess? Do you have any idea how long I busted my ass for? Ugh…! Those damn fools in the Pantheon—all talk, no substance, I tell you!"

Now, Theo was starting to understand what kind of personality this Sigurd had.

"So you’ve just been suffering here all this time?"

"Exactly! Don’t you think it’s about time I got a break? Do you know how many years I’ve been stuck in this cramped place, putting up with this nonsense?"

And so began Sigurd’s rant… which quickly turned into a long-winded lament that made Theo’s ears ache.

How long he had been trapped here, how exhausting it was to deal with the occasional Chosen, how unbearably dull it was to watch the same residents repeat the same actions over and over—these were just a few of his grievances.

If it weren’t for his sense of duty, he would have abandoned everything long ago.

‘He didn’t seem like such a talkative person before.’

It seemed that this confined environment had shaped him into who he was now.

“Is that so.”

“Yes. It seems so.”

“You’re not listening to a word I’m saying, are you?”

“How could that be? I was deeply empathizing with the heavy burden you bear, contemplating how best to convey this when I meet you again in the Pantheon.”

“With a tongue that sharp, I take it you didn’t care much for swordsmanship before your regression?”

Theo simply smiled and shifted the conversation.

“More importantly, tell me what mission I need to complete here. Where is the Guardian?”

Sigurd gave Theo a look that seemed to ask, what kind of guy is this? But upon seeing Theo’s unwavering smile, he let out a dry chuckle.

Then, with a hint of mischief, he said,

“The Guardian is already quite close to you.”

Theo was about to ask what he meant when a thought struck him.

He immediately activated [Clairvoyance].

As his vision adjusted, the scenery around him began to distort, revealing hidden truths invisible to the naked eye.

Beyond the dazzling chandeliers, countless jagged teeth gleamed menacingly. The luxurious carpet beneath his feet—was actually a massive tongue.

The banquet hall. The entire hall—was inside a massive beast’s mouth!

And then—

「Hoohoohoohoo…….」

Beyond the window, something sparkled like a gemstone, accompanied by eerie laughter.

Theo had the distinct sensation that something was watching him—and laughing.

『That size is absurd…….』

Lodbrok’s grave murmur reverberated in his mind.

‘Do you recognize it?’

『It appears to be Canhel.』

‘Canhel?’

『A Dragonkind that isn’t bound by any fixed form. It usually dwells in its master’s shadow, but when it finds a place it likes, it takes over and replaces it with its own body.』

It seemed that this banquet hall had piqued its interest, and it had completely fused with it, making it a part of its own flesh.

“If you pass the trial, you’ll leave the banquet hall unharmed. But if you fail… well, that would be horrific.”

"What’s with such cruel words? Surely, you’re not thinking of leaving so easily?"

Sigurd stroked the armrest of the throne as he continued speaking.

"Rather, this place exists to punish descendants who are filled with greed despite lacking the proper qualifications, or for those who possess strong will and ambition but have yet to awaken their talent."

When Sigurd lifted his head again, his eyes gleamed with a menacing light.

"Those who pass the trial here will obtain the <Qualification of a King> as they desire. However, those who fail will be punished for the crime of coveting a treasure beyond their means."

Now, it all made sense.

The reason why Kinkarnon had been so desperate to seize the Scepter of the Sovereign, even going as far as plotting a coup.

"Being born with the blood of Ragnar is of great significance. Shouldn’t that also mean an equal opportunity must be given?"

Sigurd grinned.

"Of course, to do that—you must surpass ‘me.’"

[ A quest has arrived. ]

[ Scenario Quest #11 ]

Among the blessings granted to the bloodline of Ragnar, there exists the ability to regress. However, this is merely a talent imprinted within the lineage—those who fail to awaken it cannot even dream of using it.

Founder Sigurd, concerned that there may be descendants with talent who have yet to unlock their bloodline’s abilities, has prepared a way to artificially awaken them.

The seat of the Chosen is a throne that only a king may sit upon. It is also a seat that proves one is capable of succeeding Founder Sigurd.

Demonstrate that you possess the ability to claim that position.

· Difficulty: SS

· Reward: Relic of the Ancient Dragon, ???

· Failure: Death

Theo quietly stared at the entry marked as ‘???’.

Was that the reward granted to the one who seized the Scepter of the Sovereign as a Chosen?

"You mean to say that I must surpass you."

"It means you must defeat me—the one standing here."

Sigurd slowly rose from his seat.

In that instant, the music that had filled the ballroom came to an abrupt halt, and the dancing figures retreated to either side.

Step. Step!

With each step down the stairs, Sigurd’s face grew younger.

"Hmm, let’s see. You are sixteen now. Almost seventeen, am I right?"

As his height gradually shrank, Sigurd, standing on the carpet, now looked not just young—but downright boyish.

Seventeen-year-old Sigurd.

But without a doubt, Theo could tell just by the sheer force of his presence—this version of Sigurd was far stronger than Kinkarnon.

Zzzt. Zzzt.

The one who founded the great House of Ragnar—was he truly different from the rest?

Srrrng!

Sigurd slowly drew his sword.

"If you want to speak of the Qualification of a King, you should at least be strong enough to surpass me at your age, don’t you think?"

He smiled playfully as he spoke… but Theo could only let out a dry chuckle.

‘The Scepter of the Sovereign… Now I understand why it was never spoken of within the house, and why my father never bothered retrieving it.’

Simply put, no one had ever passed the trial of the Scepter of the Sovereign.

Not a single descendant had ever surpassed Sigurd’s legacy.

Kyle must have known that, which was why he had never taken the relic back.

At the same time, Theo felt an intense competitive spirit rising within him.

The Sigurd he had seen in the Pantheon was nothing short of a God of War himself.

His heart pounded with anticipation at the thought of facing him in battle.

Of course, if he lost, he would simply become a meal for Canhel.

‘Well?’

But for Theo, who had already resolved to rebuild Ragnar from the ground up, this was a trial that felt almost inevitable.

"Has anyone ever passed this trial?"

Instead of the shattered Drake’s Blade, Theo suspended four swords in midair.

"There is one."

Sigurd grinned, baring his fangs.

"Kyle."

"……!"

* * *

The duel against seventeen-year-old Sigurd was far beyond the level of mere sparring—it was a battle, a fight to the death.

Sigurd did not hold back just because Theo was a descendant, nor because he was a Chosen.

There was a reason why the quest difficulty had been classified as SS.

But in the end, Theo emerged victorious.

Having undergone numerous quests and level-ups, Theo’s rate of growth had reached the point where even Sigurd of that era could not match him.

"If we get the chance to meet again, that would be quite fun."

Again?

Sigurd’s words, spoken just before the quest concluded, left Theo with questions.

But Sigurd merely smiled without offering any further explanation—almost as if to say he would understand when the time came.

And so, Theo returned to reality with his reward in hand.

The Scepter of the Sovereign glowed with a faint blue light as it settled into his grasp.

The Scepter of the Sovereign, which had first appeared to Theo in the form of a scepter (笏), was now wrapped around his wrist in the form of a bracelet.

[ Scepter of the Sovereign ]

Enhances the dignity of a ruler.

· Type: Accessory

· Effect: Amplifies all skill effects by 1.5 times

· Requirement: Must have passed the quest

Amplification of skill effects.

For Theo, nothing could provide a more immediate and definitive increase in power.

[ ‘Skill: Drake Fear’ is pressuring the opponent. ]

Boom!

Kinkarnon’s shoulders were forcibly crushed downward.

Already unable to use mana due to the restraints, the added weight of aura suppression left his complexion so pale that it seemed difficult for him to even speak.

Yet, his sheer mental fortitude was remarkable—he did not let out so much as a single sigh.

Instead of responding, he fixed his gaze on the bracelet wrapped around Theo’s right wrist.

"The Scepter of the Sovereign. So, you’ve obtained it."

A bitter smile spread across his lips.

"In the end, the rightful owner of an artifact is always predetermined, huh?"

"You’re not planning on telling me where you got it. Then… was it the Mad Dragon Emperor?"

Kinkarnon slowly closed his eyes again.

That was all Theo needed.

Through his fully activated [Clairvoyance], his vision revealed an ethereal white glow faintly radiating from Kinkarnon.

"It was the Mad Dragon Emperor."

A voice filled with absolute certainty.

Kinkarnon’s gaze quickly snapped toward Theo, a flicker of unease appearing beneath his eyes.

"You can’t tell if I’m just fishing for information or if I already know, can you?"

The white glow intensified.

At that moment, Kinkarnon knew for certain.

No matter whether he spoke lies or truth, there was no deceiving the deep, sunken gaze of Theo.

His words could now be judged.

[ Due to the skill effect enhancement, the spiritual essence within your mana has been strengthened. ]

[ You can now discern truth from falsehood using Clairvoyance. ]

[ Black indicates falsehood. ]

[ White indicates truth. ]

With this, Theo intended to pull out the thread of the Mad Dragon Emperor that was entangled with Kinkarnon.