NOVEL WEB Chapter 177
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
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< Chapter 177: Escalating Competition for the Throne (2) >
Theo observed the countless gazes fixed upon him.
Thump-thump-thump!
This was the attention he had aimed for.
However, facing it directly in reality brought a pressure far greater than he had anticipated.
Yet, the exhilaration from those gazes exceeded the weight of the pressure.
The realization that everyone’s eyes were on him.
In two lifetimes, had he not always lived as a supporting character, a mere background for someone else?
But now, he felt a powerful sense of having finally claimed a life that was truly "his own."
『Am I right?』
Lodbrok appeared in spirit form beside Theo, smiling.
‘Indeed. But you still have no plans to reveal yourself, right, Lodi?’
『Impact needs to be delivered in measured doses. For now, focus solely on awakening the mysteries of the White Tower and being chosen as the heir of the Primordial Dragon. It’s not the right time to reveal me yet.』
Theo nodded, fully agreeing with the sentiment.
The meaning carried by the Primordial Dragon and the Guardian Dragon was vastly different.
The Primordial Dragon was said to be the origin of all dragons and the one who first founded the Winter Mountain Range.
Since it was a being from distant myth, rumors of being chosen by it would cast Theo in an "enigmatic" light.
And if he could control a dragon because of it?
He could shatter the limitations imposed by his status as an illegitimate son and be reborn as someone truly extraordinary.
However, the title of "Companion of the Guardian Dragon" carried slightly different connotations.
The Guardian Dragon, Lodbrok, was a tangible historical fact recognized by all members of the House of Ragnar.
Naturally, this title came bundled with that of the successor to their founder, Sigurd.
Taken at face value, it wielded immeasurable power that no one could rival.
But on the flip side... it might not just challenge the succession rights; it could even destabilize Kyle’s throne itself.
‘Now is not the time to reveal Rodi’s existence. When Rodi’s body has fully recovered and my position is unshakable, only then will it be the right moment to reveal her. And even then, it won’t be too late.’
Besides, the more hidden cards one had, the better.
Theo leaped downwards.
His landing point was right next to Julius.
Thud!
"Theo! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Julius, who had been exuding a threatening aura while confronting the three dragons, immediately relaxed and examined Theo thoroughly.
His sole conclusion was:
‘He’s truly obtained the mystery!’
Considering the historical weight carried by the White Tower, he had anticipated that its mysteries would be anything but ordinary.
Otherwise, neither Torkel nor the Black Iron Cavalry—and even Troyban—would have shown such interest.
However, the moment Theo appeared with multiple dragons in tow, Julius instinctively realized that the power of the mysteries Theo had gained was far greater than he had anticipated.
More than anything else—
The presence emanating from Theo was fundamentally different from before.
His skills might not have changed significantly.
But the shift in his spiritual presence (영격) wasn’t merely a matter of being stronger or weaker.
-It was about potential.
How much more he could grow, and how exceptional he could become. That was the measure of his presence.
A higher presence was necessary to dream of higher realms and to hold more people in one’s grasp.
And now, Theo embodied that very concept.
Even the depth of his gaze was different.
"Yes. Thanks to you."
"You…!"
"I regret not giving you any advance notice. I apologize for suddenly burdening you with the aftermath of my actions. I’ll explain everything in detail later."
Even his tone was subtly different from before.
As if he had lived through several lifetimes. Or as if he were someone who had existed for an incredibly long time.
「I’m glad to see you’re safe.」
The Lord of Plum Blossom Palace seemed more relieved by Theo’s safety than surprised by his transformation.
「Because of you, Ray was nearly put in danger as soon as she joined the White Armored Dragon Cavalry. I won’t let this slide easily, so don’t think of running away—come find me later.」
Niel frowned disapprovingly, clearly displeased.
Theo, with a quiet smile, sent the same telepathic message to both of them.
「If you can spare some time, I’ll explain everything to both of you in detail.」
In the end, the Lord of Plum Blossom Palace and Niel withdrew.
The only one left in place was Illusion Dragon Magnus.
He stepped forward.
"Theo Ragnar."
He swiftly scanned the subordinate dragonkin that had all but surrounded the area.
Theo quickly performed a sword salute.
"The Practical Swordsman of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry, Theo Ragnar, greets the leader of the Blue Sword Guard."
"Spare me the needless formalities. More importantly, what are these dragons? And what happened with the White Tower? Explain in detail."
Theo was fully aware that not only Magnus but also many others were watching his every move.
Among them was Torkel, who had lost his protagonist’s spotlight.
"These are what I gained from the White Tower."
"From the White Tower…?"
"Yes."
"Are you saying you’ve fully mastered the mysteries?"
"I did more than simply master it. Though I’m still lacking, I was acknowledged by the very being who founded the White Tower."
"Stop speaking in riddles. Explain it properly."
"The founder of the White Tower is the Primordial Dragon."
"The An...cient Dragon? You mean the one from myth, said to have created all dragons in the world?"
"Yes, that very being."
"Hah!"
For a moment, Magnus wondered if Theo was playing some elaborate joke.
It was an assertion that seemed almost impossible to believe.
If it had been in the distant past, perhaps. But in this era, calling a myth historical fact and claiming to inherit it? That was the kind of thing that would brand someone as insane.
Yet—
Keeeek!
Watching the numerous dragons surrounding Theo, the visible evidence made it hard to dismiss his claim outright.
「What should we do, Commander?」
「Give us your orders!」
The members of the Blue Sword Guard glared fiercely, their sharp gazes reflecting their combat readiness. But the dragons surrounding Theo didn’t appear easily intimidated, their own ferocity matching them.
"It must be hard to believe. But as you can see, I am telling the truth. Thanks to the Primordial Dragon’s blessing, I can now tame beings classified as dragonkind."
[‘Skill: Lesser Drake’s Fear’ has been activated.]
Whooom—
Suddenly, a vortex of intense energy spiraled outward, centering on Theo.
Even Magnus felt his skin prickle from the deadly aura.
But what truly startled Magnus was something else entirely.
Crack, crackle!
Theo’s appearance began to change bit by bit.
His crimson eyes darkened into a deep ruby hue, the pupils elongating vertically like a dragon’s. Scales began to emerge along his neck and forearms, shimmering with a reptilian sheen.
And then—
Horns began to sprout from his left temple.
It was as if Magnus were witnessing the fabled race of half-human, half-dragon beings—Dragonians.
[Dragonborn Mode has been activated.]
"Even embodying the traits of a dragon has become possible for me."
Dragonborn Mode.
With the awakening of Nirvana, Theo could now push his talents to their utmost potential.
"……!"
"How… how can a person’s face…?"
"It’s a Dragonborn! A real Dragonborn has appeared!"
"Then that legend is true?"
The people around them were struck with overwhelming shock.
This stemmed from a legend deeply ingrained within the House of Ragnar:
- The one who truly awakens the talents of Ragnar shall become the master of all dragons in the world.
The House of Ragnar had always claimed to be descendants of ancient dragonkind, believing they were destined to rule over lesser dragons.
The honor of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry was at its peak for precisely this reason.
Among the swordsmen of Ragnar, they were the only ones capable of commanding dragons.
Thus, not only the Four Great Divisions but also all the swordsmen observing the scene couldn’t help but be shaken.
Theo truly seemed like a manifestation of the legendary figure the stories spoke of.
‘So this is what he planned!’
Magnus finally realized that he and the Blue Sword Guard had walked right into the trap Theo had laid.
And it wasn’t just him. The other dragons and the Four Great Divisions were caught just as thoroughly.
If one staged such a dramatic performance in front of key figures, it was inevitable that everyone would be captivated.
‘The mysteries of the White Tower were the intersection of the White Armored and Black Iron divisions. He intentionally stirred that point. Then, naturally, the Red Sword and Blue Sword divisions would gather as well, forcing everyone’s attention on him...!’
But the biggest problem lay elsewhere.
‘...This was only possible because Julius and the White Armored Dragon Cavalry were confident they wouldn’t lose even if they clashed with the other divisions. If the White Armored had shown any sign of losing, the performance’s impact would’ve been utterly ruined.’
The realization that, despite being the commander of one of the Four Great Divisions, he had been reduced to a mere pawn in the plans of a boy not even twenty left Magnus feeling hollow.
Kiaaaak!
Meanwhile, the murmurs of the crowd grew louder, and the dragons acted even more aggressively.
Even the Blue Sword Guard was visibly shaken.
「...Commander.」
「Please, give us your orders...!」
‘What should I do?’
Magnus found himself at a crossroads with two choices:
The first was to acknowledge the overwhelming tide and step back gracefully.
The second was to risk significant damage by mobilizing the Blue Sword Guard to arrest Theo.
「Magnus! What are you hesitating for? Are you seriously not going to subdue that bastard? Primordial Dragon or whatever nonsense—he’s the root cause of this internal conflict! He disobeyed orders and meddled with the White Tower without following proper procedures! Are you planning to set a precedent that the end justifies the means?」
Mokolyn Dotsenberg, the commander of the Red Sword Knights, urged Magnus to make a choice, his face flushed with anger.
「If you decide to arrest him, I’ll help, senior.」
Even Torkel, who had yet to release his combative stance, chimed in as if offering his assistance out of goodwill.
‘It’s no secret that Mokolyn and Torkel have been meeting frequently of late. Are they trying to bind me to their side under the guise of this opportunity?’
Torkel’s gaze was firmly fixed on Theo, showing no intention of wavering.
They instinctively seemed to realize that if they missed this chance to eliminate Theo, he would become a persistent thorn in their side for years to come.
The real issue lay in what would happen if Magnus aligned himself with Mokolyn and Torkel.
Although the Lord of Plum Blossom Palace and Niel were currently supporting him, everyone in Ragnar knew how close they were to Theo.
In particular, the Lord of Plum Blossom Palace had an extraordinary attachment to Theo, treating him as a beloved child and even a potential heir.
If Magnus attempted to arrest Theo, it was clear they would immediately side with him.
And then... it would lead to an irreversible and genuine internal conflict.
Drip!
A cold sweat ran down Magnus’s cheek.
He was merely a defender of the House Leader’s glory.
Yet being forced into such a divisive situation left him feeling deeply uncomfortable.
Just as Magnus made his decision and was about to issue an order—
"Everyone—!"
「What an amusing development this is-.」
The voice caused all eyes, including Magnus’s, to turn skyward.
A sword was plummeting straight down toward them.
"Th-That’s...!"
"Caliburn!!"
The treasured sword of the House Leader, Kyle, had appeared!
Boom!
The spot where Caliburn embedded itself became the epicenter of a massive energy wave that rippled outward, engulfing not just the Four Great Divisions but the entire military camp.
The oppressive auras of the subordinate dragons and even the Nine Dragons dissipated as if they had never existed.
Even the overwhelming killing intent emanating from Julius vanished completely.
"We greet the House Leader!"
"We greet the House Leader!"
The swordsmen all prostrated themselves, bowing toward the spot where Caliburn was lodged.
Atop the blade’s tip stood Kyle, arms crossed.
But his gaze wasn’t on his subordinates—it was fixed on Theo.
‘Father… why is he here?’
Since the outbreak of the Northern War, Kyle had rarely appeared in public.
Most assumed he was waging a greater war elsewhere, and Theo himself had never expected to see him here. His sudden appearance was entirely unexpected.
『Your father... has become even stronger than before. The more I see him, the less human he seems.』
Theo instinctively flinched and raised his head.
Raising one’s head without the House Leader’s permission was an act of disrespect punishable by severe reprimand.
But Theo didn’t have the luxury to care about formalities right now.
His gaze fell on Lodbrok, and he noticed her hollowed left chest.
The realization struck him like a thunderbolt—the one who had left her in such a state was Kyle.
Lodbrok glared at Kyle as if he were her mortal enemy.
The problem was that Kyle was staring back at Lodbrok just as intently.
As if he could see her clearly.
Drip!
A cold sweat slid down Theo’s back.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
He had no idea what his father would say or how he would react.
A reunion like this was something he had anticipated might happen one day.
But not in such an abrupt and dramatic way.
『Even Sigurd in his prime couldn’t compare to that man.』
Lodbrok bit her lip as if daring Kyle to fight her, but Kyle shifted his gaze from her to Theo.
"Theo. Follow me."
Swish!
Then, with Caliburn, he vanished into thin air.
The onlookers could only stare blankly at the spot where he had been.
『What are you doing? Hurry up and follow him!』
Only after Lodbrok’s urging did Theo mount Umbra and chase after the trail Kyle had left.
Keeeek!
Griffins, fairy dragons, and other dragons quickly followed in pursuit.
“……”
“……”
The onlookers, unable to draw any meaningful conclusion from the sudden resolution of the incident, could only blankly stare at the now-empty space where Theo and Kyle had disappeared.