The Intensifying Competition for the Throne (4)
The Black Iron Age barracks were quiet.
As if a storm had passed by.
Even the faces of the agents who were always full of confidence were filled with deep worry and anger.
“… … .”
“… … .”
“… … .”
That’s probably because it’s the first time they’ve felt a sense of defeat.
Even though the results of the battle with the Baek Gap Yonggi Unit were not yet known, they all knew.
If they had continued to waste time like that, they would have been completely destroyed.
The Baek Gap-yong unit’s power was that strong, and its combat power was excellent.
“… … Theo Ragnar.”
The deputy commander, ‘Fire Goblin’ Ayan Sosori, closed his eyes tightly and recalled the face of the rookie he had once tried to recruit but failed.
Now, his fame has grown to the point where he can even be compared to Thorkel.
Especially when Theo showed up leading the dragon army, the feeling I got was still strong.
What on earth is this guy?
I began to think that perhaps that was the reason Thorkel went into his barracks and never came out.
‘This is like the first rival I’ve met since the captain took his seat.’
I thought the phrase “going from strength to strength” was only for Thorkell.
He was always in the running, while the other candidates were busy chasing each other.
But now the location has changed.
What kind of pressure does Thorkell feel?
Ayan couldn’t seem to get the hang of it.
But as always, Thorkell will overcome this challenge with wisdom.
And he will seize the throne… … so believed Ayyan.
That was the thought shared by all the members, including her.
“They’re all dead. Who would think that they’ve had a funeral?”
At that moment, someone suddenly appeared looking for the barracks.
Ayan and the rest of the crew turned their gazes fiercely toward him.
Ansio smiled as he lifted the glass bottle he was holding in one hand.
“I came here to have a drink with your captain. Would you like to tell me a story?”
* * *
Urgh!
Blue liquor poured into a glass filled with ice.
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“Just drink that and go.”
“That’s too much. But this older sister came here to be a drinking buddy for her younger brother who is feeling down.”
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“You’re acting unusually sharp today, unlike a while ago? You must be really angry.”
Thorkel stared at Antheo silently.
But Ansio just leisurely tilts his glass to his lips.
Thorkel narrowed his eyes.
“Was your sister originally like this?”
“What is my personality like?”
“I feel like you’ve been talking a lot more today than usual.”
Ansio was actually mentioned as one of the top five candidates, but he was always overshadowed by Guishar and had the least presence.
He was a man of few words and rarely appeared outside.
But now, what should I say, I felt like a different person.
It felt as if the body that had been hidden by the wings was starting to reveal itself little by little.
“You know what’s different now? You’ve always been easygoing and charismatic, but now you’re… … .”
“please?”
“It feels like I’m being chased?”
“I don’t like to hear it, but. Well, it’s not wrong.”
Phew!
A gasp of air came from between Ansio’s lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s strange. You always seemed to look up. I thought you’d ignore anyone chasing you and focus solely on catching the dragon, but you’re also looking down.”
“If it were normal times, I wouldn’t have even cared. But… … .”
“but?”
“… … .”
“Hmm. You’re not going to say anything?”
Thorkel could not bring himself to tell his incredible sister what was in his heart.
There was a big gap between me and Julius, whom I thought I could somehow catch up with. On the other hand, there was no difference between me and Theo, whom I thought there would be a big gap between them.
That was why Thorkell’s worries deepened.
Feeling stagnant.
I hated that so much.
But there was something even bigger than that… … .
“You, you actually don’t like the fact that your father took Theo away, right?”
“… … .”
“That’s right.”
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Ansio chuckled.
“Actually, if you think about it, you’ve been following your father around blindly since you were little. Isn’t it just that you don’t want your father to acknowledge Theo?”
Thorkel said nothing.
“I think he would say the same thing to Theo as he did to us. You want to become a god. And you will cut down all the gods and foreign gods that surround this world… … That kind of mythical story. You always wanted to take that place.”
The people of Ragnar don’t know much.
But everyone knows the top 5 candidates.
Kyle’s purpose was also the reason why Thorkel had been running without rest until now.
“When you see something like that, you get what is commonly called a father complex… …!”
“I think you’re mistaken, Sister. I don’t chase after my father because I respect and worship him.”
“Huh?”
“Rather the opposite.”
“… … !”
Words I never thought of.
Ansio opened his eyes wide.
“You’re worried that I’ll lose my spot to Theo? Quite the opposite. It’s because he’s so much like his father that I’m worried.”
Thorkel clenched his fists lightly.
Knock knock.
“So, how about we stop talking and just talk about what’s really going on?”
Ansio quickly fixed his complexion.
I was surprised to hear Thorkell’s unexpected intentions, but I thought that was why this persuasion would work so well.
Ansio poured all the wine he was holding in his hand and said with a hardened expression.
“Theo will start to receive attention from this incident. And the Nine Dragons who secretly supported him will also start to rally together.”
Thorkel folded his arms quietly as if telling her to continue talking.
“Actually, right now, the Magic Dragon, the Black Dragon, and even the Ice Dragon are all meeting Theo.”
“Wasn’t Bingryong from the eldest brother’s side?”
“That’s true. But
“The groundwork will begin to be laid starting tonight. Even Sister Renee seems to be leaning in that direction. The race for the throne will truly begin.”
“so?”
“If we continue like this, our beautiful youngest will end up stealing all the dishes, right? Then shouldn’t we join forces?”
“It sounds like you’re trying to use me as an umbrella.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. It’s true that you have a more solid foundation than me.”
Thorkel looked at Antheo quietly, and Antheo quietly handed him a neatly folded letter.
“This is a letter from the Master. Please review it carefully.”
Thorkel received the letter in silence.
The letter was stamped with a seal symbolizing a dragon.
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“… … .”
His eyes were deeply sunken.
Here too, behind-the-scenes negotiations to consolidate power were progressing rapidly.
* * *
“The throne… … As expected, this whole thing was planned for a flashy debut.”
Bingryong Niel snorted as he looked at Theo.
He feels like he has been taken advantage of.
Above all, she originally had a successor who she had supported for a long time.
“What makes you better than Kinkarnon?”
Kinkarnon.
He was the eldest of Kyle’s children, said to be closest to the throne.
As such, his skills were extremely outstanding, and he was clashing with Amore the most for the empty spot left by Hangryong.
He was also a comrade who had a long and deep relationship with Niel.
So, unlike Princess Plum or Julius who looked at him with warm eyes, Niel couldn’t help but be cynical.
“Of course not.”
“And with what confidence are you trying to persuade me?”
“It’s not persuasion.”
“what?”
Niel frowned, and Theo straightened his back and answered.
“I’m giving you a chance. To claim your share of me before it’s too late.”
“Hohohoho! You’re still as cocky as ever.”
Niel laughed for a long time and then suddenly stopped.
“Kyle, you’re getting cocky now that you’ve admitted it. You can even look me in the eye.”
Pfft!
At that moment, Niel’s new form seemed to turn off and then appeared behind Theo.
The movement was so quick.
But Theo, without much agitation, pulled out Drake’s blade and deflected Niel’s sword.
“Your senses have become sharper. Your concentration seems to have improved as well.”
The change that occurred when Theo realized Nirvana was not a simple ascent to higher realms.
Expansion of thinking skills.
My judgment and concentration have become incomparably stronger than before.
Should I say that my horizons have broadened?
Sometimes, my ‘feeling’ got so good that I felt like I could see into the future.
‘It’s not just that the madness contained in the sword’s orb has grown. There has been a great expansion in a more fundamental part. It has become stronger. Could it be because of the White Tower?’
Of course, there must be a reason for the Baektap.
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But Theo had a strong feeling that there was more to it than that.
‘The Pantheon. Because I saw the Pantheon.’
All gods are conceptual beings.
The laws that govern this world, as well as its parts.
But their depth is so infinite that just encountering them once will completely change your perspective on the world.
“But this won’t be enough to convince me.”
Chaechaechaechae!
Tata dadadang-
Niel swung his sword repeatedly.
Every time that happened, Theo easily deflected it and opened up the distance, and Julius let out a small exclamation.
“Have you seen that, Princess Plum? The vision of the Dragon Six Arts is evident in each and every one of your sword strokes? Wow! This makes me realize that Theo is definitely one of our Baek Gap.”
“Oh my. Can’t you see the Baek Gap-yong captain? The speed of the sword and the connection between the first and second movements are the Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Skills that cannot be missed.”
“Then what is it? The plum tree can’t even bloom. It seems like it’s only useful for helping people?”
“I think you should at least wear glasses. The fierceness that Ma-Ryong-Yuk-Ye is so proud of is gone, and all you see is flashiness.”
“Is this really so?”
“Why? Do you want to try?”
As Julius and Princess Plum forgot about their pride and growled as if they were going to grab each other by the collar, the black dragon in the middle let out a sigh as if the ground was falling apart.
“Stop it, you guys. You’re getting older, so shouldn’t you come to your senses?”
“But this naughty brat… … !”
“This damn idiot who is only pretending to be fine… …!”
Whenever I get involved with Theo, I become childish like this when I was young.
The black dragon completely turned off his attention towards you and threw the dagger he was holding in his hand.
Taang!
Niel glared at the black dragon as he pushed it aside.
“What are you doing, Chief of Intelligence?”
“Isn’t that enough to pass the test, Princess Suseon? I hope you don’t forget the reason you came here today.”
Tch!
Niel grumbled and quietly put his sword back into its scabbard.
What purpose did you find?
Is there anything else you’re curious about besides the mystery?
Theo looked at the black dragon with a questioning look.
“It seems like our conversation is quite strange.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Actually, you passed the advanced inspection exam a little while ago.”
“… … !”
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“Congratulations. You are the youngest ever to become a senior prosecutor.”
Thump thump!
Theo’s heart was pounding.
I thought the test would be difficult.
It was a completely unexpected gift.
But strangely enough, I felt more puzzled than happy.
Somehow I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the end.
“And as the report said, I can see it with my own eyes. Your skills have improved by leaps and bounds, so you might even be aiming for the position of Yongmun Inspector.”
The black dragon clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them.
“The reason I came here is because I have one question to ask you, other than giving you the promotion test for Yongmun Inspector if necessary.”
question?
“And based on your answer and attitude here, Heukseol and I will decide whether or not to support you.”
“… … !”
Thump thump thump thump!
My heart was beating so fast.
The black dragon’s red eyes deepened.
“If I asked you to behead your friend Wellington Narsio as a promotion test, would you do it?”
How the bastard of the Return Sword Family lives
