Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 179

The barracks of the Black Steel Ironclad Division were eerily silent, as if a tempest had swept through.

The confident expressions that usually adorned the faces of the troops had been replaced with deep concern and simmering anger.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Perhaps it was because, for the first time, they were grappling with the bitter taste of defeat.

Though no official result had been declared from their confrontation with the White Dragon Cavalry, they all knew the truth: had the clash continued, they would have been annihilated.

The White Dragon Cavalry's forces were overwhelmingly powerful, their strategies impeccable.

“...Theo Ragnar.”

Aiyen, the deputy commander known as the "Fire Goblin," closed her eyes tightly, recalling the face of the rookie she had once tried to recruit but failed to secure.

That same rookie had now risen to rival Torkel in fame.

The sight of Theo commanding his dragon legion still burned vividly in her memory.

“What on earth is he?”

The fact that Torkel had retreated to his quarters and had yet to emerge spoke volumes.

“This is likely the first time the commander has encountered a true rival.”

Until now, the term "unstoppable" had seemed tailor-made for Torkel. He was always the one chasing those above, while the other candidates struggled just to keep up with him.

Now, however, the tables had turned.

For the first time, Torkel was the one being pursued.

“What must that pressure feel like?”

Aiyen couldn’t quite grasp it, but she trusted that Torkel, as always, would overcome it with wisdom and strength.

She believed, as did the rest of the unit, that Torkel would ultimately seize the throne.

“Everyone looks so grim. Someone passing by might think we’re holding a funeral.”

A voice broke the silence as someone casually strolled into the barracks.

All eyes turned sharply toward the intruder.

It was Ansio, holding a glass bottle of liquor in one hand and wearing a faint smile.

“I came to share a drink with your commander. Mind letting me in?”

The sound of ice clinking echoed as Ansio poured an azure liquid into her glass.

“Drink that and leave,” Torkel said coldly.

“How harsh. Here I thought I’d be a good older sister and keep you company since you seemed troubled.”

“You’re spouting nonsense.”

“You’re unusually sharp today. Must be really upset, huh?”

Torkel glared at her, but Ansio remained unfazed, leisurely sipping her drink.

Torkel narrowed his eyes.

“Have you always been like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re unusually talkative today.”

Ansio was typically the least conspicuous among the five candidates, overshadowed by her twin, Gishar.

She rarely spoke and seldom took center stage.

But now, she seemed different—like a bird spreading its wings, revealing the figure that had been hidden beneath.

“And you,” she continued, “don’t seem like yourself either. You’ve always been calm and charismatic, but now you look... desperate.”

“Not wrong,” Torkel admitted, though his tone was curt.

Ansio chuckled softly.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s curious. I thought you only ever looked ahead, ignoring those chasing after you and focusing solely on slaying the Demon Dragon. But now, you’re looking behind you, aren’t you?”

“If this were the usual, I wouldn’t care. But…”

“But?”

“...”

“Hmm, you don’t want to say?”

Torkel found himself unable to voice the thoughts weighing on him.

The gap between himself and Julius, which he thought he’d close eventually, still loomed large. Meanwhile, the gap between himself and Theo, which he had assumed would be vast, was surprisingly narrow.

This sense of stagnation gnawed at him.

Even more unsettling was something else entirely.

“You’re upset because Father took Theo with him, aren’t you?”

“...”

“That’s it.”

Ansio smirked.

“Since you were young, you’ve always been loyal to Father, following him around like a shadow. You hate that he’s acknowledging Theo, don’t you?”

Torkel remained silent.

“I’m sure Father told Theo the same thing he told us. That he intends to become a god. That he’ll destroy the Pantheon, the Outer Gods, and everything that binds this world… you’ve always wanted to take that place for yourself, haven’t you?”

Among the Ragnars, few knew Kyle’s true goals.

But for the five candidates, it was common knowledge.

Kyle’s aspirations were the very reason Torkel had run tirelessly all these years.

“That kind of obsession is called a ‘father complex,’ you kno—”

“Don’t misunderstand me, sister. I don’t follow him out of respect or admiration.”

“...What?”

Ansio’s eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected reply.

“It’s quite the opposite.”

“...!”

“I’m not worried about losing my place to Theo. What bothers me is how much he resembles Father.”

Torkel clenched his fist, the knuckles cracking audibly.

“So instead of playing games, why don’t you get to the point?”

Ansio quickly composed herself, realizing this twist could work in her favor.

She downed the rest of her drink and adopted a serious expression.

“Theo’s already attracting attention. The Nine Dragons who were quietly supporting him are starting to rally behind him.”

Torkel folded his arms, gesturing for her to continue.

“Right now, the Demon Dragon, the Sword Dragon, the Black Dragon, and even the Ice Dragon are aligning with him.”

“I thought the Ice Dragon was loyal to our eldest brother?”

“They are. But...”

“Tonight marks a turning point. Even our sister René seems to be leaning in his direction. The competition for the throne is about to ignite in earnest.”

“And?”

“If we leave things as they are, our dear little brother might steal the entire stage. Don’t you think we should join forces?”

“You’re asking me to serve as your shield.”

“Not entirely wrong. You do have a stronger foundation than I do, after all.”

Torkel scrutinized her intently. Without a word, Ansio slid a neatly folded letter across the table.

“It’s from my master. Read it carefully.”

Torkel accepted the letter in silence.

Stamped on it was the emblem of the Tyrant Dragon.

“...”

His eyes darkened.

Beneath the surface, negotiations for alliances and power consolidation were already in full swing.

***

"Throne, huh… So this was all just a flashy debut plan after all."

The Ice Dragon Niel scoffed, glaring at Theo.

To her, it felt like she had been used.

More importantly, she had long since pledged her loyalty to another heir.

"What makes you better than Kincarnon?"

Kincarnon—the eldest son of Kyle and the candidate deemed closest to the throne.

Renowned for his remarkable skills, he was locked in a fierce battle with Amore for the position left vacant by the Void Dragon.

He had also been Niel's comrade and ally for many years.

So, unlike the gentle gaze of Plum Blossom Lord or the admiration of Julius, Niel's eyes were filled with cold derision.

"Nothing, of course," Theo replied calmly.

"And yet you think you can sway me to your side?"

"I'm not trying to sway you."

"What?"

Niel furrowed her brows as Theo straightened his posture and declared,

"I'm giving you an opportunity. A chance to secure a stake in me before it's too late."

"Hahaha! Still as cocky as ever, aren't you?"

Niel laughed heartily before abruptly stopping, her gaze sharpening.

"So Kyle gives you a pat on the back, and now you think you can stand there and look me in the eye like an equal?"

Whoosh!

In an instant, Niel's form vanished and reappeared behind Theo.

Her speed was overwhelming, but Theo showed no panic, drawing his Drake Fang blade to deflect her attack.

Clang!

"Your senses have certainly sharpened. And your focus has improved too."

Theo's recent awakening through Nirvana had brought more than just a rise in his skill level.

His cognitive processes had expanded dramatically, granting him heightened judgment, unparalleled focus, and a broader perspective on the battlefield.

It felt as though he could occasionally glimpse the future itself.

“It's not just that the madness contained in the Orb of the Sword has grown. Something far more fundamental has changed—stabilized, even. Could it be the White Tower?”

The White Tower had undoubtedly played a role, but Theo sensed there was something deeper.

"It’s because I witnessed the Pantheon."

The gods were not merely beings but conceptual entities—rules and gears that dictated the world's very nature.

Their depth was immeasurable, and encountering them even once had irrevocably altered Theo's view of the world.

"But pulling a few tricks like that won't be enough to convince me."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Niel launched a flurry of rapid strikes.

Theo deftly parried her blows, increasing the distance between them.

Julius let out a low whistle.

"Plum Blossom Lord, did you see that? Every swing of his sword carries the essence of the Six Arts of the Demon Dragon. Truly, he’s one of us White Dragons through and through."

"My, oh my, White Dragon Captain, are you blind? That technique, the speed of his strikes, the seamless transitions—they all scream the Plum Blossom Style."

"And yet the Plum Blossoms haven’t even begun to bloom. It’s clear the boy's skills are more suited to slaughter than flourish."

"Perhaps you need glasses, dear Captain. If you ask me, your precious Demon Dragon Arts look dull and lifeless compared to the Plum Blossom's beauty."

"What did you just say?"

"Do you want to test me?"

The Plum Blossom Lord and Julius snarled at each other, seemingly ready to pounce like feral cats.

Between them, the Black Dragon sighed so deeply it seemed the ground might collapse.

"Enough, you fools. Haven't you two grown up yet?"

"But this brat—!"

"And this pompous peacock—!"

As always, anything involving Theo seemed to reduce these two to childish bickering.

The Black Dragon turned away from their squabble and flung a dagger into the air.

Thud!

Niel deflected it with a flick of her sword and glared at the Black Dragon.

"What’s the meaning of this, Intelligence Chief?"

"Isn't it about time we ended this test, Warden of the Frost Palace? Let’s not forget why we’re all here."

"Tch."

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Niel sheathed her sword.

Test?

Theo tilted his head, confused.

Was there something they wanted other than to confirm the secrets of the White Tower?

The Black Dragon turned to him, smiling faintly.

"I imagine you’re wondering about this little game of ours."

"Yes, I am."

"Consider this: you’ve just passed your senior inspector trial."

"…!"

"Congratulations. You are now the youngest senior inspector in history."

Thump-thump!

Theo’s heart raced.

He had braced himself for a grueling ordeal, but this unexpected acknowledgment felt like a reward.

Still, a strange unease gnawed at him.

This couldn’t be the end.

"Your report was impressive, but seeing you in action confirms it. Your skills have grown immensely—perhaps enough to qualify for the rank of Dragon Warden."

The Black Dragon clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them.

"My visit today is twofold. First, to evaluate whether you’re ready to take the Dragon Warden advancement trial."

Theo held his breath.

"And second…"

The Black Dragon’s crimson eyes darkened.

"I have a question for you. Your answer will determine whether I and the Black Snow will lend you our support."

"…!"

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

Theo’s heart pounded loudly.

"What if, for the advancement trial, you were ordered to kill your friend, Wellington Narcio? Could you do it?"