NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 168
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
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< Chapter 168: The White Tower Ruins (3) >
“Our elder sister...”
When Torkel opened his mouth, Kishar and Ansio turned their gazes toward him.
“She seems quite fond of Theo Ragnar.”
The atmosphere grew subtle.
Depending on the interpretation, it could be taken as a question asking if she had already formed an alliance with Theo.
However, Lezé, with her arms crossed, openly scoffed, replying as if she didn’t care.
“Well, no matter what anyone says, it’s true that he beat me once. It’d be odd for me to insist otherwise, wouldn’t it? If anything, someone like him deserves more praise. He’s someone I could make use of when I take the throne.”
“Indeed, from your perspective, that makes sense.”
All the candidates present were already assuming it was only natural for them to ascend to the throne.
Torkel clicked his tongue.
“In any case, I’d hoped we could discuss matters related to Naban and perhaps ease the strained relations with the White Armored Dragon Cavalry by gathering together, but it seems that won’t happen.”
His gaze remained fixed on the empty seat across from him, the one prepared for Theo.
His expression remained inscrutable.
* * *
“I don’t like it.”
The drinking session between the four candidates ended earlier than expected.
With Theo absent, Lezé left first, complaining of boredom, and Torkel also departed, saying he was getting tipsy.
In the end, Kishar and Ansio were left to stew in their dissatisfaction, questioning why they had attended the gathering at all.
“What is it?”
“Doesn’t it bother you? Both Lezé and that Torkel brat—at the end of the day, all they talked about was that crippled fool. There was no progress in the discussion at all.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. But what can we do? There was nothing more to discuss there.”
As Kishar vented his frustration, Ansio simply shrugged.
The meeting had originally been called to strategize their response to the war against Troyban and to discuss how to handle the potential rise of new candidates.
However, no concrete agreements had been reached regarding these matters.
“I’ve thought from the beginning that it’s a mistake for someone like him to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. If there were signs of him growing, we should have stomped him out. Instead, we let him raise his head so high? If only I hadn’t been away on your assignment...”
Ansio offered no retort.
Although they were siblings by blood, her views were far too different from her brother’s staunch belief in bloodline supremacy.
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
“Make him realize the truth.”
Kishar's eyes gleamed with a murderous intent.
“To make him understand that he doesn’t even deserve to sit at the same table as us.”
“Do whatever you want,” Ansio shrugged.
For her, it didn’t matter what happened to Theo, with whom she had no particular rapport.
If Theo fell behind in the competition, she wouldn’t have to waste energy worrying about him. If Kishar fell behind, it would simply mean one less competitor.
As always, she sought to maximize value with minimal investment, prizing efficiency above all.
However, Kishar took her indifference as approval.
To him, his beloved sister was always on his side.
He believed that this time would be no different.
It was nothing but a simple misunderstanding.
‘Let’s see how well you manage, dear brother.’
* * *
After the homecoming party ended,
Theo left the main tent alongside Ray and the Holcus siblings.
However—
“Ray Ragnar! I challenge you to a duel!”
“...?”
Holcus suddenly blocked Ray’s path and drew his sword.
The towering figure, over two meters tall with a menacing expression, made Ray look tiny by comparison. Yet Ray remained unfazed, tilting her head slightly with a puzzled look, as though she couldn’t understand why he was behaving this way.
Her gaze naturally shifted to Erika, silently questioning if she knew anything.
Erika, however, simply shrugged indifferently, as if it wasn’t worth her attention.
Ray then turned to Theo, seeking an explanation.
Theo, scratching his cheek awkwardly, addressed Holcus.
“Holcus, why are you suddenly challenging Ray to a duel?”
“Because I’m her senior!”
“...Huh?”
“As her senior in the unit, it’s my duty to teach a newly enlisted junior about the greatness of her predecessors and to give her a harsh taste of what life in the unit is like!”
“...?”
“...??”
“That weird old-fashioned jerk...” Erika muttered irritably, covering her face with her hand as if she couldn’t bear to watch.
But Holcus’ eyes were deadly serious.
Following the recent homecoming report, Ray had been officially recognized as a member of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry.
Though she wasn’t fully inducted yet due to not having been chosen by a partner, she was still a provisional member.
That alone was enough to make Holcus feel threatened about his position.
‘When Theo becomes captain, there will be an open spot in the squad. To ensure I’m chosen, I need to prove my usefulness.’
Ray, without a word, drew her sword.
And then—
Chaeeeeng!
The two clashed in an instant.
Ray was dominant in the duel, but Holcus wasn’t as easily overpowered as before. He was giving it his all, channeling all his senses and effort into the fight.
“Let’s just leave that idiot to it.”
As Theo hesitated, unsure of what to do, Erika tugged on his arm.
“Is it alright not to watch?”
“The outcome’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s more about what he gets out of it. We only need to see the result. Anyway, weren’t you planning to do something?”
“How did you...?”
“How did I know? You were fidgeting through the entire drinking session, like you couldn’t wait to get up. I bet everyone except you noticed. Where are you going?
//Seems like a missing statement
Let’s go. I’ll guide you since you don’t know your way.”
Theo let out a dry laugh.
It seemed his eagerness to take on the quest had been more apparent than he thought.
Though the party had been thrown to welcome him back, he felt a twinge of guilt for being so preoccupied.
‘I’ll have to apologize properly to the captain later.’
Having come to this point, Theo decided to accept Erika’s help.
There was no real reason to keep it a secret anyway.
“I want to go to the ruins.”
“The ruins? At this hour?”
“It’s precisely because it’s nighttime that I want to go.”
“...?”
Erika tilted her head, not quite understanding his intent at first. Then, as realization dawned on her, her eyes widened.
“You’re not thinking...!”
“Shh. Nothing’s confirmed yet. Let’s get it done as quietly as possible, without the Black Iron Cavalry finding out.”
Erika nodded, still looking somewhat bewildered.
Then, as she recalled Theo’s previous success in solving the mysteries of the Floating Archipelago, a look of excitement replaced her confusion.
The thought of striking a blow to the ever-nosy Black Iron Cavalry, who were constantly sniffing around the White Tower, was already putting her in a good mood.
* * *
The White Tower was a distinctive landmark, recognizable even from afar.
The eleven-story stone tower, carved from white marble, leaned at an angle of over ten degrees, as if it might topple over at any moment.
Its appearance was similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa from his first life, but it looked far more weathered.
“Halt! Access to the area around the tower is strictly prohibited after 10 p.m. State your affiliation and withdraw immediately. Any resistance will result in immediate execution.”
The ones guarding the White Tower were knights clad in red plate armor, heavily armed and imposing. Their deeply worn helmets obscured their faces entirely.
The Red Sword Knights.
This invincible order, known to follow only the commands of Lord Kyle, had been stationed around the White Tower since its value was discovered, never leaving their post for even a moment.
The situation was tense, as there was no telling when Troyban might attempt to seize the tower.
‘What should I do? This wasn’t part of the plan.’
Theo stared at the White Tower, which glowed with a blue light marking it as the quest location, and fell into deep thought.
His initial plan had been to quickly recover the mystery before the Black Iron Cavalry or Torkel could react.
At this rate, he wondered if it would be better to officially obtain permission and act tomorrow.
However—
“This is Practical Swordsman Erika Ranke and Theo Ragnar, of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry. We are here under the orders of the captain, Demon Dragon Julius Ragnar, to investigate the White Tower,” Erika declared confidently, flashing her identification and spinning a casual lie.
The Red Sword Knight guarding the area frowned.
“The White Armored Dragon Cavalry? We’ve received no prior notice of dragon knights visiting at this hour.”
“Yes, that’s likely. The decision was made just a short while ago. We’re here to confirm something regarding Theo Ragnar’s promotion test. A notice of urgent cooperation should be reaching the knight order headquarters about now. You know who this man is, don’t you?”
The knight’s expression grew troubled.
Who in Ragnar didn’t recognize Theo’s face? Rumors about him taking the exam to become the youngest Advanced Swordsman had already spread far and wide.
“Then, until the notice arrives, you will have to wait here and—”
“Oh, come now. Why so rigid between comrades? We only need to look around the area near the tower.”
The knight hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Unlike their strained relationship with the Black Iron Cavalry, the Red Sword Knights didn’t have a bad rapport with the White Armored Dragon Cavalry. Furthermore, Theo was a successor candidate among the six leading contenders for the Ragnar throne.
There seemed little reason to be overly strict.
‘This might even interest the Black Iron Cavalry.’
In truth, the knight had already taken a bribe from the Black Iron Cavalry to report any suspicious activities by the White Armored Dragon Cavalry at the White Tower.
Since guarding the tower wouldn’t be an issue, he decided he would soon send a message to Pattaya about this development.
“Fine. But until the notice arrives, you are strictly limited to the outer perimeter. Entry will only be granted afterward.”
“Haha, as expected. The Red Sword Knights are much more straightforward than those petty landlubbers.”
“Hmm! That comment is potentially problematic, so I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
Still, the knight seemed pleased by the compliment and promptly opened the barricade for them.
Erika winked at Theo, as if to say, What do you think of my skills?
Theo let out a faint chuckle as he approached the White Tower with Erika.
『I felt a familiar disposition... and now you’ve already found a new relic.』
At that moment, the channeling with Lodbrok reconnected, her delight radiating strongly.
‘Do you know what function that tower possesses?’
『I’m not entirely sure. But I do know it serves as a ‘gate’ to somewhere.』
‘A gate?’
Theo found the information slightly different from what he expected, but decided he would confirm the details soon enough. Taking out the [Blue Key], he smiled faintly.
“A key?”
Erika, watching him, wore a puzzled expression.
Theo grinned.
“Want me to show you something interesting?”
“What?”
“That White Tower you see there—it’s just a disguise.”
“A disguise...?”
“Yeah. The real deal is...”
Theo’s gaze shifted downward to the ground beneath his feet. Erika followed his gaze instinctively.
What she couldn’t see, however, was the faint blue glow swirling around Theo’s feet.
“It’s hidden beneath this ground.”
Without further explanation, Theo plunged the key into the ground and twisted it to the side.
Clunk!
Suddenly, the sound of a lock disengaging echoed, followed by a rumbling vibration.
Rrrrummble!
“...!?”
Erika’s eyes widened in shock.
The earth trembled, and the ground began to rise, forming strange patterns.
A swirling mystery circle spun rapidly, creating the illusion of a ‘gate’ opening before them.
What was even more astonishing was that the first floor of the deteriorating White Tower lit up brightly, as if welcoming someone’s entrance.
“W-what is this?! What’s happening?!”
The Red Sword Knight rushed over, alarmed and demanding an explanation.
He had been planning to wait until the Black Iron Cavalry arrived, but now he felt something had gone horribly wrong.
“When the Black Iron Cavalry arrives, kindly deliver a message for me: The mystery of the White Tower has been claimed by the White Armored Dragon Cavalry.”
“W-what...?!”
Ignoring the knight’s shock, Theo stepped into the radiant vortex.
Fwaaaah!
[The quest is starting.]
A notification buzzed loudly in Theo’s ears.