Chapter 115: Floating Archipelago (5)
The interior of the mansion was just as vast and beautiful as its exterior.
‘They’ve splashed money everywhere.’
Theo’s first impression was similar to when he had visited Antonio’s mansion in Novazé.
「I’ve been to Camellia Palace where you stayed, but it wasn’t like this, was it? This place is fancy, sure, but why does it feel so tacky?」
With a subtle gesture, Theo signaled to Selperd not to show his thoughts openly, then turned his attention back to Antonio’s explanation.
“I have one thing to ask of you before I introduce my companions.”
Theo nodded quietly.
“What is it?”
“Please, refrain from any reckless sword fights.”
“......”
“They’re all friends with pretty rough personalities. Some of them are the type who won’t put their swords away until it’s settled.”
Was it a plea to avoid wasting time, or a warning that if he acted recklessly, he might not survive?
‘Both.’
Selperd and Arin seemed to pick up on this as well; their brows twitched in response.
“This way, please.”
Creak!
Antonio opened the door and led them in.
Six men and women were scattered around the spacious room, either smoking cigars or sharing drinks.
They all appeared to be around Antonio’s age.
However,
‘Not a single one of them seems easy to handle.’
Among them, there were even individuals with skills comparable to those of an Advanced Swordsman.
At the far end, a woman with short hair, watching them quietly, caught his eye.
“Antonio.”
“Oh! Our brother. You must have had a rough journey.”
“I heard the Sea Bell disease has worsened? Did you have any trouble getting here?”
“One question at a time. Before that, I have someone to introduce. This is Lord Lant. Lord Lant, please come in.”
The moment Theo stepped inside, the six men and women’s expressions shifted.
“The one mentioned in the letter.”
“The one who holds Balmung.”
“He’s even younger than I expected. What can someone like that possibly do?”
Most of them had a negative first impression of Theo.
Given his appearance, he seemed no older than the youngest sibling in any family, so it was natural for them to make that assumption.
Thud!
As soon as Theo took a step further inside, an overwhelming dragon-slaying aura swept through the room.
Whirrrrr-
[‘Skill: Lesser Drake’s Fear’ has been activated, initiating a show of dominance.]
“......!”
“......!”
“......!”
The cigars they held abruptly extinguished, and the ceiling trembled violently.
Rumble...!
A look of shock flashed across the six men and women’s faces.
With aura alone, Theo had already surpassed a significant number of them by a wide margin.
「W-what the...? Was our youngest really this strong? I knew he took down Beta, but this is just unfair. We might not even be able to beat him now...」
「No kidding.」
「Arin, what are you going to do now?」
「Why would I do anything?」
「Did you eat some goldfish memory food or something? Don’t you remember how you threatened Theo on the ship?」
「How was that a threat?」
「It was definitely a threat. And with him acting more and more like the Commander, I’m going to make sure I don’t stand out. Heh heh.」
「...Mind if I hit you just once?」
Selperd and Arin, who had been observing from behind, were also surprised enough to start joking with each other.
At that moment, Theo pulled the Dragon Slayer Sword from his inventory and drove it straight into the floor.
Thunk!
The blade was so sharp it sliced cleanly through the marble floor.
That was the exact moment the stiff expressions on the faces of the six men and women shifted.
Greed.
“Balmung...!”
“So, the letter was real.”
Their reactions varied widely.
Curiosity, hostility, neutrality.
What stood out was how these reactions differed based on where they were standing.
Even within this small group, there were clear divisions.
It meant they weren’t as united as they appeared.
‘Three groups, maybe? No, probably four.’
While mentally noting each group, Theo spoke.
“Antonio has probably already mentioned this, but what I want is the Mystery located in Kriemhild’s Colossus. In exchange, after resealing the Sea King, I’ll return Balmung to you.”
The Dragon Slayer Sword strapped to Theo’s back, wrapped in cloth, vibrated more intensely by the second.
“We’ll stand guard here. Best of luck to you.”
「Lord Selperd, Lady Arin, please secure this spot. Black Skull may attempt interference.」
「Don’t worry. We, your reliable seniors, will hold things down here.」
「Be careful and come back safely.」
Theo lightly leapt over the barbed wire fencing surrounding the Colossus.
Buzzzzz!
The Dragon Slayer Sword vibrated so violently that it seemed it might shatter at any moment.
[‘Dragon Slayer Sword: Balmung’ wishes to return to its original place. Locate the position, discover the Mystery within, and obtain the right of ownership.]
Finding the “position” mentioned in the message wasn’t particularly difficult.
All Theo had to do was locate the spot where the Dragon Slayer Sword’s vibrations grew strongest.
That led him to a place.
In front of the massive sword embedded in the neck of the evil dragon.
‘Its design is different from Balmung.’
The Dragon Slayer Sword was an ordinary longsword in appearance, but Kriemhild’s sword had gemstones embedded in it, a much more ornate design.
Was it a result of time’s wear, or perhaps embellishments added by legend?
As Theo unwrapped the cloth covering the Dragon Slayer Sword, something abruptly plummeted from the sky.
“Die, Ragnar!”
A massive hammer descended at incredible speed.
Theo quickly drew Drake’s Blade and deflected it.
Boom!
The hammer’s wielder landed, performing a mid-air flip as he touched down.
A bald, towering brute of nearly two meters of pure muscle.
“Drew.”
Then,
Szzzzzz-
The air around him warped, and about a dozen figures emerged from the shadows, each armed with various weapons.
But the most striking feature was the black skull emblem on their chests.
“Gray.”
Seeing the familiar face of a flame-based mage among them, Theo gave a dry laugh.
He had miscalculated.
Even if they were going to attack, he had assumed they’d at least wait to see if he succeeded in obtaining the Mystery.
To set up a trap like this, and impose a strict 30-minute time limit?
‘Unless...’
Theo narrowed his eyes.
“Lord Lant, if you hand over Balmung willingly, we’ll at least spare your life.”
“I don’t see the need for this. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to act after I’d obtained the Mystery?”
“If you acquire the Mystery, you’ll become too powerful, and that would make cleaning up after you much harder. It’s easier to deal with you now.”
“Or maybe you’re just trying to handle this quietly without the knowledge of Antonio and the other leaders?”
Gray clicked his tongue.
“Smart people like you are such a hassle... There’s no point in hiding it now. Yes, you’re right.”
Just as he thought.
This wasn’t Black Skull’s collective decision; it was a personal scheme orchestrated by Gray and Drew.
So he hadn’t been wrong to sense disunity among them.
It was a chaotic mess.
But this worked in Theo’s favor; the more divided Black Skull was, the easier it would be to deal with them.
“We swore long ago never to share the same sky as a Ragnar. So we can’t accept your proposal.”
“I never said I was a Ragnar.”
“Do you think denying it will keep us from knowing?”
They seemed somehow certain of his identity as a Ragnar, though how they knew was a mystery to him.
In the end, Theo couldn’t keep up the pretense any longer.
He shot a quick glance at Drew, who was still brimming with murderous intent.
“So, you really are Slow Gang’s brother?”
“More or less. And one other thing.”
Fwoosh!
As the hem of Gray’s robe flared, flames burst forth.
“I’m also a ‘Gang.’ Gray Gang. In place of my wrongfully killed brother, Slow... I’ll kill you now, Ragnar.”
Theo realized he’d need to come up with a different strategy to overcome this ambush.
It was already clear that Selperd and Arin outside had likely fallen into their own traps as well.
‘If that’s the case...’
Theo poured all his energy into the Dragon Slayer Sword he held in his left hand.
Zzzzzang—
Thud, thud, thud...!
With a fierce hum, the sword’s aura surged outward, unleashing a tempest that swept through the surroundings.
“Pathetic desperation. Retrieve Balmung!” Gray yelled as he unleashed his magic, and Drew, along with his subordinates, charged in unison.
“Well, let’s see who’s really desperate,” Theo replied with a cold laugh, brandishing the steaming Dragon Slayer Sword toward Kriemhild’s Colossus.
The blade, saturated with aura, spiraled forth, ripping through the Colossus.
“What are you doing...? N-no, stop!”
As Gray and Drew’s faces turned ashen, Kriemhild’s Colossus erupted.
Boom!