Dragon’s Ark (5)
[All buffs have ended.] [You will become helpless as a penalty.]
Theo looked around while forcibly supporting his body, which was saggy like water-soaked cotton, with Drake’s blade.
Fortunately, thanks to [Amplification of Vitality], I was able to hold out okay.
But there might be other males and females hiding that he hadn’t noticed.
at that time,
“This fucking thing.”
Somehow, in the fight with the dragon, a being wearing a wooden mask fell from the sky.
Crack!
Theo laughed at the sound of Akt grinding his teeth.
When I recalled all the hardships I had suffered because of him, I felt like my heart was empty.
“Are you laughing?”
Akt glared at Theo with eyes that looked as if he was going to tear him apart at any moment and reached out his hand.
Although Theo had no strength left to lift a finger, he had no worries at all.
“Prince Theo!”
It seemed as if Wellington’s voice was heard from somewhere in the sky above.
and,
Theo fell silently to the side.
The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was a tidal wave crashing down like a waterfall.
* * *
Groan, groan… … .
-Wow! I ran hard for the first time in a while and now I feel completely exhausted, completely exhausted. It seems like my skills haven’t rusted yet?
– Oh my. I’m going to die. How can I play like an active player at this age? My joints are aching so much.
-That guy, even though he talks like that, his mouth is still so sweet.
Noisy… … .
-Have you seen this guy fight?
-Oh, did you just look at it? I watched it intently. It killed me.
-The trajectory of the sword and the direction of the blow were exactly the same as the captain’s, right?
-And yet, it’s a new path? Fast and sharp.
-Is it really true that this guy hasn’t even been holding a sword for a few years? What kind of growth rate is that…!
-What’s even more surprising is the ability to understand the sword. Is this something you can really trust and leave to others and become a Buddha?
-Become a Buddha.
-Ahem! Let’s think about that a little more carefully.
.
.
Advertisements
Theo forced his eyes open to the sound of ghostly voices ringing in his ears.
‘Here?’
I clearly remember killing Odd and Kali, but after that, everything was dark, as if the lights had gone out.
-Oh, my eyes are open. My eyes are open.
-This guy won’t be a nobleman either. Hahaha.
“Prince Theo, are you awake?”
“Are you okay, Theo?”
A familiar voice beyond the ghosts.
Only then did Theo realize that he was lying in bed.
“Well? Ray?”
“How’s your body? How’s your body?”
“Are you hurt? Are you dizzy or anything? Yeah?”
Wellington and Ray were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief after repeatedly confirming that Theo was simply exhausted.
Theo quickly checked his physical condition and smiled lightly.
‘Well appeared at the end.’
“I hope Cassandra found Well safely with Deungryong.”
“Prince Theo would never know how surprised he was when the little girl, who he thought had left, suddenly appeared in an adult-like state and started telling him all sorts of stories.”
‘I guess so.’
From Wellington’s perspective, the shy child who would hide behind Theo’s back even when he greeted him suddenly changed.
It was difficult for Theo to explain about the Empress of Magic, so he answered by scratching his cheek awkwardly.
‘The locations of the two people were probably found by the prophet’s power. In this case, Cassandra is the one who contributed the most.’
“So that’s why you came straight to save me.”
“That’s right. I never thought you would be able to capture the gravedigger, the bishop of the Holy Demon Church, and the captain of the Blue Band all at once, all by yourself.”
Theo just smiled at Wellington’s gaze burning with competitive spirit.
I thought that after recovery was complete, they would probably fight again.
“Then where is Cassandra?”
The fact that two people came means that Leje and the Sashinjo also came.
Then, it was obvious that Leje would be killing himself next to Cassandra.
As expected.
Wellington smiled awkwardly as if he was momentarily embarrassed, and Ray made a sour expression as if he was not pleased.
I wonder if something is going on.
Wellington sighed and answered Theo’s question again.
* * *
Theo went straight to the room where Cassandra was resting.
However, Wellington and Leje were not the only ones going together.
Advertisements
It was a bunch.
-Hey, kid.
-Are you sure you’re okay? It’s not like there’s anything that hurts and you can’t tell me because you’re embarrassed, right?
– Raise your arm. How about your leg? Is your thigh okay? I think you used too much force in that last stab!
-When you perform an eclipse in the future, try reducing the amount of magical power output by half or less. It’s too inefficient right now. You should at least make a short form!
-I just had a really great idea… … !
‘If I keep listening, I’m going to go crazy.’
Theo tried his best to ignore the ghosts that followed him around, worrying him and giving him advice, and went to find another building.
They were now back in the manor, which they originally thought was a mausoleum.
It is said that Dengryong won the match against Akt, who had left the battlefield, and drove out Troyban and the Holy Demon Church.
Furthermore, it was said that Theo’s activities in overthrowing the old Kyoryonghoe would soon be officially reported to Winterer and included in his achievements.
And if you take Cassandra along, Theo’s position will change incomparably.
‘Maybe I can sit in the position of Captain Baek Gap-yong much sooner than I thought.’
Shelford’s opinion was that this achievement might be enough to advance to the rank of senior prosecutor, or even higher.
But Theo couldn’t just be happy.
This was because Cassandra had been suffering from a high fever of unknown cause ever since she came to the manor.
-I think you might be suffering from a fever.
The most learned of the ghosts read Theo’s thoughts and said so.
An old man who was badly beaten in a bet with Theo and ended up closing Odd’s eyes.
How surprised I was when I heard he was the vice-captain.
“Fever? What is that?”
-It’s like the aftereffects of using this too much. I’m sure you’ve experienced similar symptoms if you’ve used this for too long.
The ghost tapped his head with his index finger.
Theo’s eyes lit up.
I was talking about the brain.
“It seems that the prophet’s ability is also based on brainwaves.”
-Most abilities, the abilities that people usually call superpowers, are usually like that. Especially the ability to manipulate time, it consumes a lot of brain power.
“ah.”
-That future child, the Empress of the Darkness or whatever, has been occupying your consciousness for too long, so your body’s balance has become unbalanced. So hurry.
-That’s right. So hurry up! That kid said he had something he wanted to tell you directly.
What on earth does the Empress of Magic want to leave behind?
With that thought in mind, Theo opened the door wide where Cassandra was supposed to be.
There was a leje inside.
-Ugh!
-No matter how much I look at that face, I just can’t get used to it…
Advertisements
The vice-captain and the ghosts hesitated and could not bring themselves to enter the room.
Cassandra was worried, but it was because Leje’s face was completely unfamiliar.
How could the face of the captain, who was thought to have died a long time ago, be so similar?
-I did think that since there is such a thing as regression, there must also be reincarnation.
-Still, I can’t seem to get used to seeing the same face like that.
-But wasn’t the captain deprived of his existence because of that damn curse? Then his soul would have been destroyed or imprisoned somewhere, so how could there be reincarnation?
Leje spoke to Theo, not even realizing that all the ghosts’ eyes were on him.
“I heard the story. You single-handedly killed the leader of the Blue Band and the bishop of the Holy Demon Church. And you even found out about the gravedigger’s whereabouts.”
Theo looked at Leje for a moment without answering.
It was difficult to tell whether she was hostile to him or not just by looking at her facial expression.
I thought it would be difficult for him to be friendly, based on the things we’ve encountered so far.
Swish.
“… … ?”
“What are you doing? You’re not holding on.”
Leje extended his right hand and asked for a handshake.
Theo took it after a moment’s hesitation.
Kwaaak.
My hands were completely tense.
“Congratulations. Candidate 6. You have just recently moved from a position that was only pretense to being recognized as a real ‘rival’ to me.”
From now on, I will acknowledge Theo and show no mercy.
It was a warning, but Theo laughed because he heard it as a compliment celebrating his growth.
“Is that so?”
“Huh? Are you laughing? Do you even know what it means to be my rival? It means that I no longer see you as my younger brother, but as my mortal enemy who is fighting for the throne.”
“I know.”
Kwaaaaak.
Theo also added strength to the handshake.
“Rather, it is what I have been hoping for. To stand shoulder to shoulder with you and other older brothers and sisters. So, to fight with your sword and win that position is what I have been hoping for.”
“That bastard never says a word.”
A smile soon appeared on the corner of Rize’s grumbling lips.
She no longer seemed to care about the conflict in the manor.
If you’re cool, you have a cool personality.
Yet, he is active when it comes to power.
Theo liked that kind of personality of Leje.
‘This appearance is very similar to your previous life. Magara will never forget it.’
Of course, Theo intended to retrieve the Grim Reaper someday.
Advertisements
As spoils of war for the victor.
Very confidently.
“Then I’ll go first. Good luck.”
Leje tapped Theo on the shoulder and passed by.
“I.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Are you just going?”
“I told you so.”
“Didn’t you need Cassandra?”
“What are you saying? What have you been listening to me for so far? Why should I have my eyes on your loot that you protected until the end? If it’s taken from you, it’s taken from you. It’s a dirty trick.”
Leje suddenly turned around.
“But be careful. You never know when I might take it as loot again. Let’s go.”
The messenger followed Leje as he quietly disappeared.
defeat.
As the proud successor to Ragnar, it must not have been easy to admit that fact.
Theo scratched the ball.
‘Perhaps I knew the personalities and tastes of the heirs, but I had no idea about the vessels they possessed.’
“You’re here… ….”
Theo turned and looked at Cassandra.
By then, cold sweat had formed on his face.
Theo said, wiping her face with the handkerchief that was beside him.
“I have something to say.”
“Yes. I think I should see Theo before I go. I might not be able to see you in the future.”
It was a word that had ambiguous meaning in many ways.
Theo smiled bitterly, but then suddenly a thought occurred to him.
Now it seemed like she was having a hard time maintaining her composure.
Then, if you can’t even use your powers properly, will you be able to see your own smile?
“I guess you feel sorry for me.”
“……any.”
“Please stop thinking like that. It’s an insult to the life I’ve lived.”
Theo nodded, saying he was sorry.
At this very moment, Cassandra exuded the aura of an emperor who had lived as a sorcerer empress for decades.
“So before I leave, I would like to ask you, Theo, as Emperor, one favor.”
“A request?”
“Could you please give me a pen and paper?”
Advertisements
Theo didn’t know what she was going to do, but he handed her some paper and a pen from the nightstand.
Cassandra scribbled down something like an address and handed it back.
“This is the place where there is a secret vault that only the emperor has been allowed to open for generations.”
“……what?”
A completely unexpected gift.
Theo’s eyes grew as big as lanterns.
The Emperor’s Secret Vault.
It was a forbidden territory known to have only famous treasures from all over the world, not to mention the empire.
But then it suddenly fell into his hands.
“Your password is 66*7182-32. Be sure to remember it.”
“Wait a minute. Why are you suddenly giving me this?”
“This world will soon be in chaos. So is it really necessary to give it to a traitor who will soon usurp the authority of the royal family?”
“Still, that’s why I’m giving you this.”
“The current emperor is unconscious anyway, so it wouldn’t be strange if he closed his eyes right away, and the next emperor will be this child. So please, Theo, keep it safe and open it once in a while for this child when needed. If that’s still difficult to manage.”
Cassandra continued with a playful smile.
“Shall I appoint you as a separate treasury keeper by your imperial authority?”
“… … Haa! Okay, okay. I’ll keep it for now.”
Theo felt more like he had been given a burden than actually had the safe.
Obviously, if it is the secret vault of a past emperor, it will be of great help in the future competition for the throne.
This was because he could not have been unaware that it was a ‘bribe’ to protect the young Cassandra.
‘Even if we need it, we have Rodrigo’s safe, so there’s no need to be greedy.’
『Hmm? My dear, I thought you had some very irreverent thoughts a little while ago. Was it my imagination?』
‘Yes. I think you misheard. It’s impossible for me to have thought that.’
Theo pretended not to know and just ignored it.
“And one of the items in this safe is something that Theo will definitely need.”
“What do I need?”
“Yes. The Wheel of Death.”
“How did you… … do that?”
You’ve never told anyone else about this, have you?
Theo’s eyes widened.
“The spring that Lord Theo had wound was the very wheel, and the wheel has already begun to roll. Even though the <Nameless Lord> has fallen asleep for a while, he will soon open his eyes and run towards the end to meet Lord Theo. That is an unstoppable process.”
“… … .”
“So, you’ll need to find the next card, ‘Commander of the Knights Impaled with Dozens of Swords’ as quickly as possible.”
“That card is right in the safe… … ?”
“Maybe?”
Advertisements
Only then did Theo seem to understand Cassandra’s thoughts.
Before leaving, the Empress of Magic was trying to leave him with the interpretation and prophecy of the dream she had.
As much as possible, without interfering with the law of causality.
“I thought that guy was the leader of the suicide squad, and that you were the ‘Queen who laid down her crown.’ Wasn’t I?”
“It may or may not be true.”
“what?”
“Haven’t I told you before? The future is just one of many possibilities. The one who ‘decides’ what that card is is you, Theo.”
I couldn’t figure out what it meant.
However, I could tell one thing.
The ‘Knight Commander impaled on dozens of swords’ card is so hard to find that even future Cassandras would have a hard time predicting it accurately.
But it is inevitable that they will meet at some point on Theo’s journey.
The three tarot cards he had seen in his past life were definitely not simple tarot cards.
‘Who on earth was that old lady who read my tarot cards?’
Cassandra said.
“Please, don’t forget your current appearance and determination until the end. Make a different choice than the previous choices. And then.”
Cassandra.
The Empress of Magic gave her last smile in this world.
“Please let us meet again with smiles.”
How the bastard of the Return Sword Family lives
