Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor: Doodle

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< Chapter 140: The Tulip Mausoleum (5) >

「The ones who took the child were Flash Demons」

A voice as chilling as ice flowed out from beneath the mask.

“Yes. That’s what I was told.”

「There’s nowhere that bastard hasn’t meddled in, is there?」

Arkt frowned at the report brought by the leader of the Blue Crane Corps.

Flash Demon.

Anything concerning Theo Ragnar was already essential knowledge for the Retainers of Troyban.

The one who had thwarted Ed’s ambitions of swallowing up Ragnar.

The one who stole the Dragon Slayer Sword, Balmung.

The one who erased their influence in the autonomous territory of the Floating Archipelago and even took the Mysteries of Kriemhild.

And… the Chosen One.

The fact alone that he could open the relics of the Ancient Dragon was cause for alarm, and he continued to shatter every one of Troyban’s schemes.

And this time was no different.

It was a situation that could only provoke anger.

In truth, he wanted nothing more than to lead the entire Blue Crane Corps over the wall right then and there.

「The problem is the other bastards there.」

Not only was there the Upsurging Dragon who had taken one of his arms, but also the notorious Lezé and the Reaper Division.

If they collided head-on, extracting Cassandra would not be an easy task.

「In the end, will we have to bring in those guys too? How irritating.」

Fortunately, nearby, there was a support force that Arkt could call upon, ready to come running immediately.

Although he had been reluctant to rely on them, disliking their boastful demeanor, it seemed now there was no other choice.

After all, what was important to them was not the emotional side but the grand cause.

“Considering the location, wouldn’t it be difficult for them to act recklessly as well?”

「It would be difficult to swing swords carelessly in the shrine, you say?」

“Isn’t Ragnar full of those who obsess over preserving their own history above all else?”

「How laughable. Those who have forgotten their ‘true’ roots are prattling on about history and tradition.」

The laugh that came from beneath the mask was unmistakably mocking.

“And at some point, we, too, would need to take control of the shrine. We might as well aim for it together.”

「Indeed. With things as they are, let’s open up the board wide.」

Arkt’s gaze twisted beneath the mask.

「But first, we must ensure that the child isn’t swept up in the battlefield…」

Arkt gave several orders, and the leader of the Blue Crane Corps shouted a respectful reply before quietly disappearing.

* * *

‘By tomorrow… Theo will be leaving too, won’t he?’

Cassandra was a smart child.

She understood her circumstances better than anyone, and she knew very well the value she possessed.

Her mother and the villagers had died—all because of her abilities.

The power to foresee the future.

For those who lived up in the high places, someone like her would undoubtedly be essential.

Thus, she had already anticipated that Theo would soon guide her to those people.

The one relief, at least, was that these people were with Theo, right?

Theo had told her.

Unlike those terrifying men from before, these were good people, so there was no need to worry.

So, she could trust them.

Theo was a very good person who shared secrets with her.

‘I want to be helpful to him before he leaves! But why does it keep not working?’

This troublesome ability of hers never seemed to show things easily when she wanted it to.

After wrestling with it for some time, it would at least show her fragments of things.

Yet, whenever she tried to see something related to Theo, it didn’t work.

Was something blocking it?

She wondered if her power simply wasn’t activating properly.

‘But that older sister’s future… was clear.’

The image of Lezé sitting on the throne, leading countless people, remained vivid in Cassandra’s memory.

Those people exuded a feeling distinctly different from ordinary people.

Yet, all of them obeyed Lezé’s words.

So, her ability was definitely not broken.

‘It’s just… he’s just invisible. Theo is.’

– As if he were detached, all by himself, from this world.

The thought rose up to her throat, but Cassandra couldn’t bring herself to say it.

If she said it out loud, Theo might seem as though he were not human.

Knock knock.

“Lady Cassandra, I brought some refreshments. Would you like to have some?”

As Cassandra’s thoughts deepened, a knock sounded along with a servant’s voice.

Cookies!

Instantly, Cassandra’s once gloomy face brightened up.

In the slums, even when she craved them, she could hardly ever eat cookies, but here, they would give her some just for asking.

It was also one of the reasons Cassandra thought Ragnar was such a wonderful place.

“Yes!”

“Then, excuse me.”

The door opened, and she heard the sound of the servant entering.

Click, click—

Footsteps approaching her.

Cassandra tilted her head curiously.

“Um… Sister.”

“Yes, Lady Cassandra.”

The voice was unmistakably that of the maid who had been talking to her just a moment ago.

“Did you hurt yourself somewhere?”

Was there perhaps the slightest difference in the sound of her footsteps?

“I twisted my ankle a little while carrying something earlier, but is the sound bothering you?”

“Oh, no, not at all! I was just worried that you might be uncomfortable!”

“Well, that’s a relief. I’ll leave the refreshments here on the table.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Cassandra nodded, though her suspicions lingered.

Whenever the maid brought her something, she would always place it on the bed table, worried Cassandra might have trouble moving.

So why, this time, on the table…?

At that moment—

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Cassandra’s once-dark vision filled with new images.

The woman dressed as a maid was placing the tray on the table.

But beneath the tray, a tiny needle was hidden.

The needle would soon pierce her neck as she reached for the cookies…

Then, her vision went dark again.

Cassandra took an involuntary step backward.

“Oh dear. Did you notice?”

“…!”

“I mimicked not only her face but even her habits and tone. How did you figure it out? Was it thanks to your special ability?”

Help!

Cassandra wanted to scream, but before she could, the assassin disguised as the maid moved.

The assassin planned to knock Cassandra out in one swift motion and make a clean escape.

Just as she’d infiltrated unnoticed, she was confident she could leave undetected.

After all, there was a very capable ally here.

However, the assassin’s plan quickly fell apart.

Just as the needle was about to reach Cassandra, shadows rippled and rose sharply upward.

A grotesque, ashen-gray creature tore through the black shadows, snarling.

Keek!

“W-what is this…!”

Out of concern that Cassandra might get lonely, Theo had stationed Umbra beside her in advance.

Although Umbra could double as a bodyguard if needed, Theo had never expected Troyban would make a move here, of all places, where both the Upsurging Dragon and Lezé were present—by sheer luck, it had proven to be a wise choice.

The needle bounced harmlessly off Umbra’s tough scales.

Umbra, bearing jagged teeth like the blades of a saw, lunged to sink them into the assassin.

Crunch!

The assassin narrowly avoided the attack, retreating in a wide leap.

Despite her attempts to get closer to Cassandra, Umbra’s massive frame filled the room, leaving no openings for approach.

Boom! Boom!

Moreover, Umbra seemed utterly indifferent to the furniture in the room as it continued to wreak havoc.

It targeted the assassin with its wings, held rigid like blades, and even exhaled a black breath that appeared toxic.

In the end, the window shattered, and the collapse of a pillar sent tremors shaking the entire building.

“What’s going on?!”

“A-a monster?!”

“Damn it! An assassin! Inform the higher-ups at once!”

The guild’s guards, who arrived belatedly, spotted Umbra and the assassin, while the Reaper Division scrambled to protect Cassandra.

“Damn.”

The assassin grimaced at the tightening perimeter around her.

It seemed the plan to quietly kidnap Cassandra and slip away had completely fallen apart.

In that case, only one option remained.

She pulled a cylinder from her clothes and tugged the fuse in the direction of the collapsed ceiling.

Pew, pop pop pop!

Soon, red smoke from the signal flare billowed thickly into the sky.

Ding ding ding ding ding-!

Warning alarms blared noisily from all directions.

The Blue Crane Corps, who had been waiting outside, launched a coordinated assault.

– Damn it!

– We’re under attack! Troyban is targeting the shrine!

– Stop them! We must protect this place at all costs!

– Reaper Division, hurry and guard the child! Don’t let them get near her!

– What is that? It doesn’t seem like it’s only Troyban!

– It’s the Sacred Demon Church! The Sacred Demon Church has shown up too!

– Those cult bastards… do they even know where they are…!

Urgent screams and the sounds of chaotic movement echoed from every direction.

“Followers of the corrupted soul.”

The assassin looked coldly at Umbra and the swordsmen standing ready to subdue her, a mocking smile on her face.

“Your misplaced loyalty will never receive the choice or blessing of your ancestors, but only condemnation and curses-!”

Boom!

The assassin muttered incomprehensible words to herself and lunged toward Cassandra.

In that instant, her skin flushed a fierce, alarming red, as though about to burst.

“R-Reverse Blood Explosion?”

“And Bloodlight Convergence too! Damn it! She’s detonating both techniques at once? She must be insane!”

The infamy of the Reverse Blood Explosion technique was well-known even in Ragnar.

A self-destructive technique that reversed the flow of magic power, instantly elevating the user’s level by several stages at the cost of their life.

Combined with the Blood Priest’s skill from the Sacred Demon Church, her overwhelming aura reverberated through the very air.

Rumble-

Umbra lowered itself, poised to lunge at the assassin, while the swordsmen, tense, braced themselves for confrontation.

Swish!

Suddenly, two figures dropped from the sky, blocking the assassin’s path.

Shiing!

Boom-

Theo was the first to strike, fiercely deflecting the assassin’s assault with a Balmung charged with magic power.

Wellington, who arrived a step behind, seized the blind spot and delivered a lethal blow.

Slash-

Thud!

The assassin’s head was neatly severed, flying through the air.

A collaboration as flawless as could be.

Yet Theo and Wellington remained vigilant.

Assassins just like this one were rushing toward them from all directions.

And along with them, even stronger waves of energy.

“Theo, my lord!”

“I’m aware. Looks like it’s going to be a tough fight.”

Theo and Wellington’s gaze turned in the same direction.

On the roof of the building, a group of dozens of men stood with one man at the forefront.

「Theo Ragnar. So, it’s you again this time.」

A chilling voice echoed from beneath a wooden mask.

“It’s the same face I saw back in Nozeba.”

「Do not insult me by comparing me to such a fool.」

“If anyone’s foolish, it seems to be you. Didn’t losing an arm once teach you to leave well enough alone?”

Theo wasn’t at all surprised by Arkt’s arrival.

Wellington had already informed him of the clash with Troyban’s Retainers before they reached the Tulip Floral Arts Guild.

Apparently, the missing left arm was the work of the Upsurging Dragon.

Arkt’s face twisted with displeasure as Theo pointed out his past defeat to the Upsurging Dragon.

「You do have quite the mouth.」

“Wouldn’t the sting of a failed plan hurt even more?”

「You, child who follows a corrupted soul. I will tear apart the deluded path you walk and set everything right.」

“Sorry, but I don’t think you’re my opponent.”

“How dare you set your filthy foot in this place-!”

Above, a thunderous echo announced the arrival of the Upsurging Dragon, who appeared like a storm, perching atop the building opposite Arkt.

「Yes, I expected you would show up. Let’s finish the battle we left unfinished last time.」

“You impudent-!”

Arkt and the Upsurging Dragon clashed in mid-air.

Boom!

The tremendous shockwave shook the entire estate of the guild.

「While Wellington and I hold this place, take the child and leave!」

Upsurging Dragon’s sharp telepathic message pierced Theo’s ear.

「Where should I go?」

「To the White Tower! Head there!」

The White Tower ruins.

It was the border zone where Ragnar and Troyban’s territories overlapped.

The two sides had long disputed the ownership of this area, and it was the very place where, after the start of the Northern War, the first large-scale clash had erupted.

「Understood.」

Theo exchanged a brief glance with Wellington and then moved toward Cassandra.

Since stealth was essential, they couldn’t exchange verbal farewells, but the two shared a silent understanding with just their eyes.

‘Young Master Theo, rise high. That title of the “Three Lords and Eight Geniuses” — wasn’t it always meant to be yours?’

Wellington had unwavering faith in Theo’s capabilities.

He felt that he was merely holding a place far beyond his worth, a seat he kept warm only temporarily for Theo. Soon, the glory of that position would return to its rightful owner.

With that thought, Wellington prepared to intercept the Blue Crane Corps as they advanced toward Cassandra.

‘…Why is the Reaper Division here?’

Seeing another force heading toward Cassandra, Wellington quickly turned his head in the opposite direction.

“Theo…!”

The Reaper Division closed in around the unsettled Cassandra protectively, with Lezé at the forefront, standing face-to-face with Theo.

“What are you doing, Sister?”

“What am I doing, you ask? Dear brother, that’s a rather hurtful question.”

Lezé’s gaze flashed coldly as her hand moved toward the hilt of the Grim Reaper.

“I’m merely doing what I must, as anyone would expect.”