Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan - Chapter 52

“Wahaha! My precious youngest daughter! Where are you? I was told that you’re here!”

Camellia Palace was in chaos due to the Demon Craftsman Kirson’s arrival. Naturally, the palace staff’s gossip intensified.

“Oh my, Madam Kirson’s back again. She’s been a regular fixture lately.”

“She has, hasn’t she?”

“The rumor about Lady Cecilia being her adopted daughter must be true.”

“It certainly seems that way. No wonder Lady Cecilia has such refined taste.”

“Oh, that’s rich! You used to criticize her for being so particular.”

“You say that as if I was the only one who criticized her.”

“True! I used to do so with you. Ohohoho!”

Kirson, oblivious to the whispers, stormed through the palace, her voice echoing through the halls.

“Oh, where are you, my daughter?!”

However, the only response was silence.

Frustrated, Kirson resorted to flinging open doors throughout the palace.

“Are you in here?”

Slam!

“Nope. Then here?”

Bang!

“What about here?”

Crash!

After assaulting a dozen innocent doors, finally…

Bang!

“Found ya!”

Kirson had located her supposedly cherished daughter.

Cecilia was mid-meeting with fashion designers, meticulously planning a tailcoat for Theo.

Annoyance flashed across Cecilia’s face. She had hoped to finish the designs before the end of the 3rd Stage, which normally only lasted a day. However, she had been interrupted.

“…Could everyone please excuse us for a moment?” Cecilia requested.

Sensing the brewing storm, the designers quickly filed out.

Cecilia turned a sharp glare on Kirson, snapping, “Mother, what is the meaning of this intrusion? I explicitly requested you maintain decorum within the palace.”

Kirson flinched, but a wide grin quickly replaced her momentary apprehension.

Her nostrils flared with excitement as she exclaimed, “Decorum?! How can I possibly worry about decorum right now? I’m about to become obscenely wealthy!”

“Mother, aren’t you already wealthy?”

“But not obscenely wealthy, darling. At least, not yet. But soon! Kyahaha!”

Cecilia shook her head, watching Kirson’s near-delirious laughter. Ever since Theo’s rise to prominence, these unannounced visits had become commonplace.

Apparently, using Theo for advertisement had netted far better results than expected. Thanks to that, Basque Workshop’s orders were booked solid until the end of next year, but requests continued to pour in.

This was the best-case scenario for an elf who was a slave to capitalism, who practically vibrated with excitement at the mere mention of money.

However, Cecilia felt anything but joy. The unease of profiting from her son’s success, coupled with the constant worry over his well-being during the Awakening Ceremony, gnawed at her.

‘I used to badger him relentlessly when he remained confined to the Rose Palace, but now that he’s thriving, all I can do is worry… Perhaps I’m simply not cut out for motherhood,’ thought Cecilia.

Looking back, Cecilia recognized her shortcomings as a mother. She had constantly criticized Theo for failing to meet her expectations. At one point, she even saw him as a mere pawn to regain her husband’s waning affection.

She’d believed that if Theo could rise to prominence, it would draw Kyle back to the Rose Palace. However, Theo used to fail to fulfill those hopes, and a chasm slowly grew between the mother and son.

However, Theo’s courage had begun to bridge that divide. As he started to shine, Cecilia’s heart had opened, and Theo had responded in kind.

At the time, she hadn’t understood. She’d been too consumed with finding ways to help him ascend higher and shield him from the inevitable pressures and scrutiny. But now, with Theo away, the realization struck her with full force.

She had been incredibly harsh. Theo was only fifteen, a child still in need of his mother’s love and support. Guilt twisted in her gut for forcing him to grow up too fast.

‘The 3rd Stage is about to begin. Will he be alright?’

She knew that meeting his father wouldn’t be some heartfelt reunion, adding another layer of worry to her already burdened mind.

“Wahahaha!”

“……”

However, the oblivious elf remained utterly unaware of her daughter’s inner turmoil.

‘…I’ll kick her out first and worry about the rest later.’

Cecilia fixed a sharp look on Kirson. But suddenly, a conversation she had with her butlers in passing came to mind.

“There have been numerous inquiries about the young master’s swordsmanship instructor.”

“My son has an instructor? I had no idea…! Who is it?”

“Her name is Evelyn Nerevil. She’s the manager of Training Ground #4 and formerly the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry Commander’s…”

Cecilia’s gaze settled on her mother, who was still irritating but undeniably the finest craftswoman in the Northern Region.

“Mother.”

“What is it?”

“Have you ever crafted… a prosthetic arm?”

* * *

Reaper Scans

[Translator – Mr.Ghost]

[Proofreader – Harley]

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* * *

“Ugh…!” Erika grimaced, muscles screaming in protest as her duel against Theo concluded.

She hadn’t noticed during the intensity of the fight, but now pain radiated through her body. A Ragnar overpowering a Lanke with sheer strength? How was this possible?

「Heh! See? I told you it wouldn’t be easy!」

Hulkus’s taunting laughter echoed in her ear.

Erika’s eyebrow twitched.

「…Can you shut up? I’m dying here, okay?」

「I warned ya. Even you don’t stand a chance. Serves you right for brushing me off. Hehehehe!」

「You little…!」

Hulkus abruptly choked back his laughter, sensing he was pushing his luck. However, he couldn’t quite suppress the smirk on his lips.

‘Do I kill him or not?’ Erika debated.

Erika desperately wanted to throttle her annoying little brother, but she gave up due to exhaustion. Even sitting up was a monumental effort.

Hulkus, meanwhile, reveled in his sister’s misery. It felt like years of pent-up frustration had finally been unleashed.

‘Heheheh! I should use this tactic more often!’ thought Hulkus.

Erika challenging Theo had been entirely his doing. He had deliberately goaded her, claiming that no matter her strength, she couldn’t defeat Theo. Naturally, the fiercely competitive Erika had taken the bait, and this was the result.

‘But even my superhuman sister lost. Is he even human?’ Hulkus was in shock.

Unlike Erika, Theo seemed barely fatigued, his breathing only slightly raspy.

‘He’s handsome. He’s an incredible fighter. He has great stamina. He even defeated my sister… Is there anything he can’t do?’

More than anything, Theo’s words during his duel with Erika resonated with Hulkus.

“How can the Clan Head of Ragnar also be the Lanke Clan’s first gentleman? We’re the suzerain clan, after all.”

“Any Ragnar heir can dream of that, can’t they?”

‘He’s so cool…’ Hulkus was mesmerized.

Theo hadn’t spoken with arrogance or desperation. He had simply stated it as fact, as if it were his duty.

That was why it struck such a chord with Hulkus.

He had always recognized Theo’s impressive qualities, but this was different than before. It wasn’t just his good looks or his stylish clothes. His words and actions reflected the image of a dormant dragon, brimming with ambition.

Theo exhibited bold aspirations, ones that every man dreamed of.

Thump-thump!

Thinking back on Theo’s declaration sent Hulkus’ heart racing… It was as if he were resonating with Theo’s ambition.

‘My sister… she always said she would become the clan head. A clan head worthy of Lanke. A clan head who would elevate Lanke above Ragnar.’

As a child, he had dismissed her words as childish fantasies, scoffing at the notion of a vassal clan surpassing the suzerain clan. But now, he understood her grand dream.

Theo, too, harbored a similarly impressive ambition.

But that left a question… what was his dream?

Was it simply to be cool? Or simply to be strong?

‘I don’t know… Not yet.’ Hulkus’s mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

He wanted to find a dream. He had lived a life pursuing fleeting thrills and superficial coolness, but now he craved something more, something to devote himself to.

Just like Theo and Erika.

Thump-thump-thump!

His heart pounded in his chest.

‘Maybe if I keep watching them, I’ll figure out what I want to do?’

As Hulkus wrestled with his thoughts, a pair of eyes observed him from a distance.

‘Young Master Theo has charmed another person,’ Remington chuckled softly at the thought that another person would be joining them for morning training at Training Ground #4.

He recognized Hulkus’s reaction. He had been there once.

The power to draw others in with his dreams.

Perhaps that was Theo’s true strength.

***

“Ugh… I can’t just sit here forever.” Erika slowly rose, turning to Theo.

Her body still ached, but she was in the midst of the 3rd Stage. Giving up wasn’t an option.

“Hey, Zappy,” said Erika.

“…Are you talking to me?”

Theo stared at her, bewildered by the strange nickname.

Erika nodded as if it was so obvious, “Yeah. You’re Zappy. He’s Goody-Two-Shoes, and she’s Ice Pop.”

Remington chuckled. “Why am I Goody-Two-Shoes, of all things?”

“You look too prim and proper.”

“That’s hardly a justification…!”

“And you talk like an old man.”

“……”

“Are you sure you’re fifteen?”

While Remington reeled from the critique of his speech, Ray blinked in confusion.

“How am I Ice Pop?”

“Because you shoot out ice.”

“……”

“Why? Need another reason?”

Erika was simply inventing nicknames for her own convenience and amusement.

‘Then I must be Zappy because of my Thruma attribute. Kind of reminds me of Zapdos…’ Theo sighed, remembering a video game character back on Earth.

“Anyway, what is it that you really want to ask?” Theo asked.

“How are we supposed to get up there? Isn’t it way too difficult to meet your father?”

Only Erika would have the gall to speak so casually about the Clan Head of Ragnar.

“The Clan Head’s aura will intensify as you approach the mountain lodge. You should give up on trying to overpower it,” Theo started explaining.

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Match the wavelength of his magic power.”

“Wavelengths?” Erika tilted her head, confused.

Hulkus and Ray looked equally lost.

However, Remington seemed to understand. “You mean create an anti-phase wave to interfere with and neutralize the pressure?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm! That sounds easier said than done…”

“It’ll be difficult, but it’s the only way. The 3rd Stage is all about magic power control and manipulation.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Erika frowned, “Anti-phase? Interference? What are you guys talking about? Explain it so I can understand.”

Hulkus and Ray nodded in agreement.

Remington smirked as if to say, ‘You don’t even know this?’

Erika found his attitude irritating, but she held back her annoyance and listened.

“Magic power is a type of wave. It has vibrational properties. Naturally, the Clan Head’s aura is also composed of waves. To get through it, we need to create an opposing magic power wave to cancel it out,” explained Remington.

“…So, you’re saying we need to create magic power that’s the opposite of this pressure and emit it?”

“Essentially, yes.”

“Then just say that, smartass! You’re only using big words because I called you Goody-two-shoes, aren’t ya?”

Remington simply shrugged.

Erika glared at him, but then her expression turned serious. Even with a simplified explanation, the task remained incredibly difficult.

They were novices who had only awakened their magic power less than a month ago. Even though they may have obtained Elemental Breathing, such precise control was still a challenge.

However…

“Don’t focus too much on neutralizing the aura. Even if we give it our all, we can’t block the Clan Head’s aura completely. Not even the Nine Dragons could manage that,” Theo stepped forward as he spoke.

Thud!

An even stronger pressure weighed down on his shoulders. He stumbled slightly but quickly regained his footing.

Theo’s statement that it was impossible even for the Nine Dragons made the other four look back toward the judge, the Zenith Dragon. However, the judge simply smiled, hands clasped behind his back.

“We just need to create enough space to move. That much should be possible, even for us,” Theo stated.

Tmp, tmp—

Theo slowly started walking. With each step, faint ripples emanated from the ground. As he found his rhythm, his pace increased.

“I’ll be going ahead then,” Theo bid them farewell.

Whoosh!

Theo began ascending the slope.

The judge finally spoke, saying, “You all should hurry. Points for the 3rd Stage are awarded based on your order of arrival.”

The judge’s casual remark spurred the remaining four into action.