Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 332

Crack, crackle!

From the tips of the Second Apostle’s feet, a surge of icy energy erupted, and frost bloomed like flowers.

The rapidly freezing air stabbed at the Court Duke’s lungs, leaving him unable even to groan in pain.

"As expected of an Apostle..."

The crushing pressure constricting his entire body was terrifying beyond belief.

That such a monstrous being stood as his backer filled him with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

“Y-yes! He arrived several days ago and is currently staying in the annex!”

At those words, the Second Apostle’s eyes glimmered sharply.

He had counted the days for this moment, waiting with anticipation for far too long.

Now trembling with excitement, he could barely contain himself.

“What is he doing?”

“Such a lowly being shouldn’t concern you. Please, allow me to take care of— Hiiiik!”

It happened in an instant.

The oppressive aura shifted into a ghostly and malevolent presence.

The Second Apostle’s intent to kill was genuine.

Snuffing out the Court Duke would have been as easy as crushing an insect.

“Did I ask to hear your thoughts?”

Crunch!

The Second Apostle pressed his foot down onto the Court Duke’s head again.

Just a bit more pressure, and his skull would split open like a watermelon.

"W-why is this happening?!"

From the Court Duke’s perspective, the Second Apostle’s fury was incomprehensible.

To him, it almost seemed as if the Apostle was siding with Theo.

Of course, the Court Duke was unaware of the fierce battle that had taken place between the Apostle and Theo, nor could he fathom it.

The thought alone was absurd to him.

Yet, he knew that voicing such a thought would mean losing his head on the spot.

"Hmph."

The Second Apostle contemplated killing the Court Duke right then and there.

However, the Court Duke still had some use, and sparing him was the wiser choice.

“Do you dare to mock the Church? That man is a sworn enemy of our faith.”

The Apostle’s words sent a shiver down the Court Duke’s spine, and he trembled uncontrollably.

He realized his careless flattery had nearly cost him his life.

His survival hinged solely on his remaining utility, a fact he understood better than anyone.

To stay alive, he had to continuously prove his worth.

“I-I deeply apologize… Please, show mercy…”

The crimson carpet beneath him grew damp as blood from his forehead seeped into it.

The Court Duke’s head injury left a metallic scent in the air, causing the Second Apostle to wrinkle his nose in disgust.

As though touching filth, the Apostle lifted his foot, striding over to the chair and settling into it with a disdainful air, propping his chin on one hand.

“Now, tell me in detail what that man has been doing here.”

The atmosphere remained as icy as ever.

The Court Duke hastily grabbed the day’s surveillance report.

"Can I even share this nonsense?"

Even he found the reports laughable, to the point where he had nearly beheaded his steward out of frustration.

"No point hesitating. What will be, will be."

Left with no choice, the Court Duke recounted Theo’s recent activities in detail.

Rumble!

The ceiling vibrated, and dust fell, but the Second Apostle suppressed his impatience and listened silently.

“...Is what you’re saying true?”

Theo’s reported behavior resembled that of a carefree tourist, wandering the capital for amusement.

"That conniving man? Coming to the capital just to play tourist? Ridiculous!"

From what the Apostle knew, Theo never made meaningless moves.

A pleasure trip?

If Theo wanted comfort and safety, Ragnar’s lands were the obvious choice.

Yet Theo had flown straight to the capital immediately after his battle in the Forest of Naga without even pausing to recuperate.

Clearly, he was here for a purpose.

And yet, there was no sign of any such intent.

"What is the First Apostle thinking?"

Before departing, the First Apostle had given strict orders to monitor Theo and had even set a specific timeline for their operation.

Allowing someone like Theo extra time was a foolish mistake, one the Second Apostle struggled to comprehend.

"Am I missing something?"

This sense of unease weighed heavily on him.

In the past, he would have accepted the divine orders without question.

But ever since his trust had been shaken once, even the smallest doubts crept up too easily.

"Still, perhaps the First Apostle is right—this could be an opportunity."

If the mission succeeded, it would not only further the Church’s grand design but also bring about the descent of their deity,

a moment the Second Apostle had longed for with unwavering devotion.

His faith reignited, sweeping away his lingering doubts.

The rapid shifts in his mood left the Court Duke feeling utterly drained.

“That’s enough. Make sure not to miss even a single one of his movements.”

“Understood! I will remain ever vigilant!”

The Second Apostle shot the Court Duke one last disdainful look before walking toward the window.

With a graceful leap, he melted into the moonlight, vanishing without a trace.

“Phew…”

The Court Duke collapsed where he stood, his legs giving out beneath him as he gasped for air.

***

The pale moonlight descended coldly, casting an eerie glow over the capital.

Perhaps it was due to the capital’s oppressive atmosphere, but the full moon appeared especially ominous, leaving Theo with an uneasy feeling.

He paused briefly, scanning the streets, but as expected, nothing caught his attention.

"I need to move quickly."

He glanced at the pure white ring on his finger.

The reason he had come to the capital.

He had a good idea of what the ring was pointing toward.

From his inventory, Theo retrieved a piece of paper that Cassandra had written for him some time ago.

It detailed the location of the emperor’s secret vault.

A forbidden place rumored to house treasures renowned across the empire—and even the world.

"Will the emperor’s consciousness fade soon?"

In the future Cassandra had foreseen, the emperor was already in a state of unconsciousness.

One of many possible parallel futures.

When this future might occur was uncertain, but for now, Emperor Horik was still conscious.

Whether his consciousness would fade today or tomorrow was unknown, but Theo knew he needed to act swiftly.

"The ring pointed the way, after all."

Since arriving in the capital, he had felt it vaguely—the pull of death’s wheel.

Cassandra had told him that the object was inside the emperor’s secret vault.

Now was the time to retrieve it.

"The signs are troubling."

The increasing numbers of vagrants and the Court Duke’s reckless actions were alarming.

Before the emperor’s consciousness was lost, Theo needed to address these issues as much as possible.

Additionally, he had to locate the captain impaled by dozens of swords.

But first, finding death’s wheel took precedence.

Cassandra’s words from the future suddenly echoed in his mind:

"It is you, Sir Theo, who will ‘decide’ what that card represents."

The meaning behind her cryptic statement remained elusive.

"I decide for myself, huh."

The weight on Theo’s shoulders felt heavier than ever.

The words were vague yet profound.

But there was one thing he was certain of.

"The <Nameless Lord> will awaken soon."

And with it, the <Great Upheaval> would begin, heralding the collapse of the world.

"I must stop it."

Resolving himself once more, Theo headed toward the annex.

In the annex, Lodbrok was already fast asleep.

Theo quietly pulled out a pen and paper.

• Assemble an elite force and gather near the capital. Bring Cassandra and summon Phanryong.

Slipping out discreetly, Theo used a carrier pigeon to send the message to Ragnar.

The time for action had arrived.

"Phanryong."

He intended to gauge Phanryong’s ambitions one last time in this war, particularly whether he still harbored desires for the throne.

However, the contents of Theo’s letter would not reach Phanryong.

For Phanryong was already in the capital, lying low and gathering his strength.

***

Late into the night, the Wolf Fang Faction (???), established by Phanryong, was deep in a heated meeting.

At the head of the table sat Phanryong, with Dante Roll lounging beside him, resting his chin in his hand, looking thoroughly bored.

“So, what I’m saying is, isn’t this the perfect opportunity!?”

Bang!

One of the faction members slammed the table with enough force to shake it, his frustration evident.

Phanryong, however, nonchalantly picked at his ear, observing the exchange without much interest.

"How dull."

Ever since being trampled by Theo, he had been lying low in this southern region, far from the northern strongholds.

Of course, he had continued missions like purging the Holy Demon Church, but the roots of such organizations proved frustratingly difficult to eradicate.

Today was supposed to be a brief respite from those duties.

"Even here, the influence has waned significantly."

Since Theo’s support had diminished, the Wolf Fang Faction had been struggling to stay afloat.

Most of its members had already defected to the Court Duke or the Eight Eunuchs’ factions.

Still, the faction managed to survive on the remnants of their once-lucrative businesses.

Yet, in recent days, the faction’s previously empty meeting room had become an unexpected hotbed of activity.

“Do you really think the Court Duke will sit idly by? He already has eyes and ears all over the capital! If we make contact, we’ll be dead for sure! If you want to die, do it on your own!”

The argument around the table grew even more intense.

Not that it mattered much to Phanryong. Having arrived halfway through the discussion, he hadn’t the faintest idea what they were arguing about.

“Lord Dante, what do you think? Aren’t you allied with Ragnar?”

At this, Phanryong’s eyebrow twitched.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Theo Ragnar! Isn’t he currently staying in the capital?”

“!”

Phanryong’s eyes widened sharply.

"Theo Ragnar is in the capital...?"

Now that he thought about it, he had heard about Theo’s succession ceremony not long ago.

Though he hadn’t attended due to other missions, he now realized the significance of the information.

Theo Ragnar, in the capital.

“Pfft... Puhahaha!”

Phanryong’s booming laughter filled the meeting room, startling the noble members of the Wolf Fang Faction.

“Opportunity? Oh, yes, it’s definitely an opportunity.”

The mention of Theo’s presence in the capital ignited a spark in Phanryong’s mind.

"So, you’ve come here to place that blind girl on the throne, haven’t you?"

Everyone knew that Emperor Horik’s condition was worsening by the day.

Even though the Wolf Fang Faction had lost ground to the Eight Eunuchs, some of its nobles still had ties within the imperial court, making it easy to acquire such information.

"He doesn’t have much time left, does he?"

The more Phanryong considered it, the more his suspicion solidified into certainty.

But this also led to a dilemma.

"What should I do?"

No matter which side he chose, Phanryong stood to gain something.

The decision wasn’t an easy one, precisely because of the abundance of potential benefits.

The nobles in the room fell silent, waiting with bated breath as Phanryong pondered his options.

Finally, a glint of determination flashed in Phanryong’s eyes, signaling that he had made his decision.