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[You have defeated ‘Matthew Byron’ and have gained recognition.]

.

[Your Luck has increased by 14.]

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[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Tutorial Quest #11 by forming a party with ‘Evelyn Nerevil.’]

[Evaluation: B+]

[You have received ‘Beginner’s Tunic’ as a reward.]

‘As expected, no additional rewards this time. Is it because the evaluation was lower since I didn’t fight directly?’

It was a bit disappointing.

It seemed that additional rewards were only given when the evaluation was at least an A rank or higher.

‘I was hoping for some kind of authority related to using the rewards I’ve received so far.’

Now that the real battles had begun, he thought they might provide him with enough power to back it up.

‘Still, it’s not all bad.’

[You have leveled up for the first time.]

[From now on, you can freely distribute the extra stat points given.]

Theo’s eyes sparkled at the mention of the word ‘freely.’

If he could grow his abilities in the direction he wanted, the possibilities for plans would become endless.

…Later.

He would check it later, slowly.

This wasn’t something to decide on immediately.

He needed to thoroughly research and deliberate, establish a clear direction, and then make a strategic decision.

Step, step!

Theo dismissed all the messages and fully exited the Camellia Palace, turning back to look.

The place, which had been in such chaos just moments ago, was now eerily quiet.

‘The ones who targeted my mother and me. Axion. No, it was Troyban after all.’

Theo vividly recalled the second information window he had seen while patting Axion’s shoulder.

[You are now observing ‘Axion Ragnar.’]

+

Axion Ragnar (15 years old/male)

· Title: Dark Leopard

· Talent: Madness. Psychopath.

· Condition: Experiencing strong shame or stress due to failing his uncle’s orders to deal with a cripple.

+

Occasionally, the [Condition] section of the information window would describe the subject’s psychological state.

He had checked just in case… and caught a big one.

There was someone named ‘Ed Troyban.’

Axion’s uncle and Emil’s twin brother, Ed had originally been a prodigy that the Marquisate of Troyban prided itself on.

He had been a strong contender to become the next head of the House of Troyban.

But perhaps his love for his sister had been too great.

Ed had followed Emil when she married into the Ragnar family, becoming one of Ragnar’s retainers.

The title Ed had received from the head of the family was none other than “Soaring Dragon.”

He had become one of the ‘Nine Dragons’ that protected Ragnar.

But then…

This incident wasn’t just a result of Axion’s simple curiosity. It was part of Ed’s scheme.

‘Someone of that caliber wouldn’t move without a plan. When Rendon, whom he had planted, suddenly died, he must have wondered what happened and decided to test me.’

Now, how should he respond to this?

‘If my memory is correct, Troyban will eventually…!’

Just as Theo’s eyes sank deeply in thought, someone called out to him.

“Theo! Lord Theo!”

Wellington was rushing out of Camellia Palace with urgent steps.

“About what just happened…!”

“Wel.”

“Lord Theo, did you just… call me by a nickname?”

Wellington, who was about to explain the situation that occurred during the Gathering of the Hidden Dragons, suddenly stopped and widened his eyes in surprise.

Nicknames were usually used only among close friends.

“The first round ended too boringly. How about we go for a second?”

It was the first time.

The first time Theo had ever invited him to hang out together.

Wellington, of course, nodded enthusiastically, his face lighting up with excitement.

Even Evelyn, who was coming out a bit later than them, seemed slightly surprised.

‘It seems his heart has undergone some changes.’

Perhaps, by clashing with Axion, Theo had developed the concept of “my people.”

It was a favorable change.

“I know a favorite spot very well. Let’s go there. They’ll give us plenty of extra service.”

Wellington led the way in high spirits, and Theo followed behind.

‘With this incident, Wellington and the Gathering of the Hidden Dragons have completely severed ties. Does that mean the future where Narcio and Ragnar collide has also changed?’

Theo didn’t know how the future would shift.

There were far too many variables involved in the conflict between the two families.

But one thing was certain.

A significant strand of history had begun to shift subtly.

‘If I can gain the power of Narcio, which once clashed with Ragnar on equal footing…’

Theo wanted to guide that subtle change in history in the direction he desired.

For that, he would have to continue following his plans step by step, and steadily amass power.

And part of that power was right there.

“…”

Theo glanced up toward the upper level of Camellia Palace.

The second floor, the storage room. A faint blue light was seeping through the cracks of the window.

‘It’s certain. That blue light… it’s the marker the messages and quests have been pointing toward.’

From the invitation to the storage room.

The blue light was guiding Theo towards the next event.

That meant one thing—Theo had to secure control over the Camellia Palace, which was now bathed in that blue light.

‘From the beginning, Troyban and I were never going to walk the same path. So, what if I strike them first?’

Something flashed through Theo’s mind.

It wasn’t fully formed yet, but it seemed like it could work if he played it right.

‘If I take over the Camellia Palace…’

In doing so, he could sever one or two of their limbs.

It would be another opportunity to pull the strings of history in the direction he desired.

A cold smile spread across Theo’s lips.

* * *

On the 4th floor of Camellia Palace, in the quarters of Emil, the third wife.

Slap!

The sound of a slap echoed through the room.

It was something that happened frequently.

The maids and butlers all pretended not to hear it and hurried away, covering their ears.

“Not only did you lose face to that cripple, but now your own men have been cut down too?”

Emil glared at her second son, her face flushed with anger.

Axion, with a bright red handprint on his left cheek, nodded his head.

“Yes.”

“And you call that an answer…!”

In her fury, Emil raised her hand again but then paused, taking a long, deep breath to calm herself.

“I’ve explained to you countless times just how important this matter is to your uncle. Theo Ragnar—whatever that lowborn brat is doing, I don’t care. The only thing that matters to us is the Rose Palace. That’s our sole objective.”

“…”

“But now that filthy thing, sitting in the Rose Palace beyond its station, will be on high alert. We’ll have more than a few obstacles to worry about now.”

Emil’s eyes turned sharp and venomous.

“Go to your room and cool your head. Reflect deeply on how you almost ruined everything because of your shallow whims.”

“…I will remember this.”

Axion, with a stoic face, bowed slightly before leaving Emil’s quarters.

Snap!

Emil snapped open the folding fan in her hand, fanning herself to cool her heated face.

“He acts clever, yet he’s so impulsive. Who on earth does he take after? Tsk!”

“It’s quite clear. He’s taken after the young days of the Camellia Palace’s mistress herself.”

A shadow quietly approached from behind.

Without a hint of surprise, Emil glared at the figure with fierce eyes.

“I hope you’re joking, brother,” she said icily.

“The palace mistress seems quite upset. I’ve recently procured a rare aromatic candle from the Akran volcanic region in the southern provinces. I’ll gift it to you. Perhaps you could enjoy its scent during your bath later. It will help you release the tension in your body and mind.”

Emil let out a small, sarcastic laugh at her twin brother Ed’s words.

It was moments like these that made it impossible for her to hate this mischievous counterpart of hers.

He understood her heart more deeply than her own husband.

“And, in fact, I believe this recent incident might have turned out rather well.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The Rose Palace has always been difficult to claim due to its status as the harem of the family head. But what if Theo Ragnar starts making a name for himself there?”

A spark flickered in Emil’s eyes.

“A cripple, acting as the master of the Rose Palace?”

“Yes. If Theo Ragnar asserts dominance over the Rose Palace, wouldn’t all the servants and even the other wives bow their heads before the Camellia Palace?”

A smile formed on Ed’s lips.

“And this way, we can also eliminate that lowly servant who’s been a thorn in your side.”

The tension in Emil’s delicate brow eased.

For the longest time, the primary obstacle in acquiring the Rose Palace had been Cecilia, who constantly opposed her at every turn.

If she could cut both Theo and Cecilia down together, it would be the most satisfying victory imaginable.

Looking at it from this perspective, there was nothing to lose.

Emil gazed at Ed with a sly, suggestive look.

“Then, you’ve already made preparations for this, haven’t you?”

“By tomorrow morning, when you wake, you’ll hear some very good news.”

“As expected of my dear brother. How can I not adore you?”

Emil wrapped her arms around Ed’s neck, pulling him into an embrace.

Ed, in return, gently patted her back.

However, despite the tenderness of his touch, his eyes were far from kind.

* * *

For the first time, Wellington looked at Theo with a face full of disbelief.

“…Lord Theo, did you not suggest we go for a ‘second round’?”

“Yes, that’s right. Although you were the one who picked the place.”

“Still, doesn’t ‘second round’ usually imply having a drink together after a meal?”

Wellington stared intently at the glass before him.

Bright yellow orange juice, with a few ice cubes floating inside.

The straw in the middle seemed to mock him.

This wasn’t alcohol.

It was a kid’s drink, the kind served to children who followed their parents to restaurants.

The bartender and Evelyn were already laughing so hard their faces had turned bright red.

“We’re still legally minors, you know. The Gathering of the Hidden Dragons is at fault for this.”

“But this is a pub.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that we’re underage.”

“…”

“It tastes pretty good, though.”

Theo sipped on his grape juice through the straw, as if nothing was wrong.

The bartender bowed respectfully, claiming it was an honor.

Wellington turned to Evelyn with pleading eyes, silently begging for help.

But Evelyn was already laughing uncontrollably, on the verge of falling off her chair.

Sigh!

Wellington let out a deep sigh, as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

No wonder they had never gone out drinking before.

To be fair, he wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol himself.

But still, in all the novels he’d read, when friends bonded over camaraderie and loyalty, drinks were always involved… Wasn’t this supposed to be some kind of romanticized moment?

Now it felt like that fantasy was being completely shattered.

And yet, Theo wasn’t wrong.

In the end, Wellington had no choice but to grab his straw and sip the juice just like Theo.

At that moment…

Bang!

“Welcome!”

The bartender’s greeting rang out as about twenty swordsmen, drenched in sweat, walked into the pub.

Their faces were familiar.

“So, in today’s sparring match, if I had just adjusted my stance like this, wouldn’t I have won?”

“Talking big after you’ve already lost.”

“You really have no manners, huh? Just wait until tomorrow when I— Huh?”

“Wait, is that the captain? And the instructor too… Oh, oh! Even the young master is here?”

“Why is the young master here?”

“I heard he went out for some fancy meal.”

They were the sparring partners Theo had been training with for the past three months at the Fourth Training Ground.

Wellington’s favorite pub, indeed. It seemed they were familiar with the place as well.

“Somehow, it turned out this way,” Wellington explained.

“Oh, well, we can’t just sit back then! This kind of thing is best enjoyed together, right?”

They glanced at Theo, eager to join but hesitant to actually ask.

It seemed they were somewhat intimidated by Theo.

「Those guys… Actually, when they heard that you and Wellington were going out to eat something nice, they got upset and decided to gather and have a drink together.」

Evelyn’s telepathic voice whispered into Theo’s ear.

So that’s what happened.

Theo’s eyes widened slightly.

‘I’ve been neglecting them far too much, haven’t I?’

It seemed like Evelyn had wanted to point that out—reminding him to loosen up a little.

Perhaps she and Wellington had coordinated to bring him here.

‘I didn’t intend to come off as difficult or distant.’

Still, he appreciated how everyone was opening up to him despite that.

Theo subtly nodded, signaling that they were welcome to join.

Immediately, the sparring partners cheered, pulling over tables and chairs to create an impromptu gathering. It was a far more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere than the formal meetings of the Gathering of the Hidden Dragons.

* * *

The gathering wasn’t anything elaborate.

It was simply a space where people shared their personal stories.

Stories of those who had once dreamed of becoming high-ranking swordsmen but fell short due to lack of talent.

Stories of those who had lost comrades during missions and had been unable to wield a sword since.

Stories of how the weight of family expectations had crushed them.

All around were fragments of sorrow and broken dreams.

Theo found it interesting, listening to each of these stories.

He wasn’t the only one who had lived a hard life.

In their persistence to endure despite it all, he found solace and a sense of shared struggle.

‘In the end, we all live through similar challenges. Whether it’s me or them, the only difference is the environment.’

He felt like he had grown closer to them.

The sparring partners no longer seemed intimidated as they casually took seats beside Theo, and the impromptu gathering carried on from one round to another, spilling into the early hours of the morning.

“Ugh… I can’t drink anymore.”

“Please stop giving me more…”

“Mercy…”

Everyone was completely drunk, unable to hold their liquor any longer.

The only ones still sober were Theo and Wellington.

Sip sip!

Wellington was chewing on his straw, sipping on yet another glass of orange juice—he had lost count of how many by now.

‘I want to join in… I can have fun too…’

Being around someone so proper all the time did have its downsides.

As he grumbled to himself, Theo let out a small chuckle from beside him.

“You seem displeased.”

“Well… what can I do? We’re still minors.”

“After the Blossoming Ceremony.”

“…What?”

“After the Blossoming Ceremony, let’s have a drink together. The family rules won’t prohibit it anymore after that.”

Wellington let out a small, incredulous laugh.

When he saw moments like this, he realized just how adept Theo was at handling people.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

“And to be honest, I told you not to drink for another reason—I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

Wellington tilted his head in confusion.

It wasn’t often that Theo asked for help, especially like this.

Seeing the serious expression on Theo’s face, Wellington narrowed his eyes.

“There’s something going on, isn’t there?”

Wellington’s gaze sharpened, resembling the one that would eventually earn him the nickname “Lion of the Snowfields.”

Theo wondered if this was the glimpse of Wellington’s ‘true’ self, the one he usually kept hidden.

“Soon, a power struggle between Axion and me will begin. It will end around the time of the Blossoming Ceremony.”

“…!”

Wellington instinctively straightened his back at those words.

A power struggle.

In Ragnar, nothing carried more weight than that phrase.

“Of course, I will win. But there’s something I need your help with during that time.”

“What in the world are you saying…?!”

Just as Wellington was about to respond, the pub’s door suddenly slammed open with a deafening bang!

In stormed a group of knights clad in yellow armor, their entrance so forceful it seemed as if the door might break off its hinges.

The patrons of the pub turned pale.

These were the Judgment Knights, often referred to as the Reapers of Winterer.

“Theo Ragnar,” one of them announced in a cold voice.

“You are under arrest on charges of extortion, threats, violence, and inciting rebellion.”