Chapter 138

[A sudden event has occurred, opening an instance dungeon.]

[A quest has been issued.]

[Sudden Quest]

You have discovered "Grim Reaper," an artifact of the Ancient Dragon. Win a game of hide-and-seek against the artifact's guardian, Magara.

Difficulty: A

Reward: Ownership of the "Grim Reaper"

Failure: Ownership will be revoked

Theo suddenly felt the ground beneath him give way, as though he had stepped into quicksand.

It wasn’t just quicksand. It was a swamp, filled with a murky mixture of mud and river water.

“This isn’t ideal,” Theo muttered, barely catching the gist of the quest as he began sinking. Reacting quickly, he gathered mana into his feet.

BOOM!

The swamp exploded outward as Theo launched himself into the air, landing atop a nearby dry, withered tree.

Where he had stood just moments earlier, something monstrous had emerged: the creature had the body of a shark, a snake-like tail, and a crocodile’s elongated jaw. It clicked its teeth, annoyed it had missed its prey.

「You’re quicker than you look.」

Theo rested his sword on his shoulder, balancing on the branch.

“So, you’re the guardian of this place?”

「Something like that.」

“Judging by the quest, all I need to do is capture you. Why reveal yourself so easily?”

If the task was to find Magara, the creature’s sudden appearance felt contradictory. A game of hide-and-seek usually involved the guardian staying hidden.

But Magara wasn’t like the other guardians Theo had encountered.

「Why would you assume I’m going to play by the rules?」

Theo blinked in surprise, unprepared for the defiant response.

「These so-called quests are just coercive demands imposed by the Ancient Dragon. They don’t reflect our will or desires.」

Theo’s eyes narrowed. This was unlike any interaction he’d had with other artifacts or their guardians.

Suddenly, his Drake Blade, Moonlight Sword, Desert Ring, and Iceflower Butterfly began to tremble violently.

FWOOSH!

His earring glowed with a cold light as the Fairy Dragon materialized beside him.

「Nonsense!」

The Fairy Dragon glared at Magara, its small frame radiating rage.

「Lord Fafnir is our creator! His will is our sacred mission and duty! How dare you deny that?」

「Such blind obedience suits those like you, who lack free will.」

Magara’s response was mocking, and Theo could sense the disdain dripping from every word.

「You insolent wretch!」

「Spare me your dogma. Follow the human if you wish, but don’t impose your beliefs on me.」

Magara’s vertical pupils dilated as it declared:

「My true master is Lady Lezé!」

Theo observed the exchange silently, piecing together the implications.

So, Lezé has completely won Magara over.

This wasn’t just about the artifact’s power; it was clear Magara and Lezé shared a bond deeper than that of master and tool.

In his past life, Lezé had lost the successor race, yet she had kept the Grim Reaper by her side until her final moments. The scythe had been her unwavering companion, even when her faction deserted her.

For Theo, however, reclaiming the artifact’s power was non-negotiable. The Ancient Dragon’s legacy depended on him collecting these artifacts.

The Fairy Dragon growled, interrupting Theo’s thoughts.

「You’d defy the creator’s will for such a worthless goal? Lezé isn’t even a chosen successor!」

「But she is Ragnar, descended from dragons. Isn’t that enough?」

「You fool!」

Magara’s declaration seemed to seal its intent.

[Magara has expressed hostile intent toward you. It intends to hunt you down and transfer your status as a successor to someone else.]

[Quest parameters have been updated.]

[Difficulty has increased from A to S.]

A deafening roar shook the swamp as Magara vanished beneath the murky waters.

The Fairy Dragon muttered, rubbing its tiny forehead. 「This is bad. Very bad.」

Theo, however, remained calm. “It’s still the same game. I just need to find it.”

「Don’t underestimate Magara! It was a terrifying beast in life, known for shredding enemies with its jaws and scales.」

Theo smirked, his gaze steady.

“Maybe so, but I have something it doesn’t.”

[Dragon’s Bloodline Activated.]

[Dragonblood Awakening Initiated.]

The air around Theo ignited with power. His body began to emit steam, and his presence became suffocating.

This is the essence of the Ancient Dragon.

Magara, now submerged in the swamp, froze instinctively. The Dragonblood aura was undeniable—Magara’s very instincts compelled it to submit to Theo.

[All stats and special abilities temporarily enhanced.]

[Full Buff Activated.]

[Time Limit: 6 minutes.]

Theo acted swiftly. Using his enhanced senses, he extended his mana into the swamp, pulling at the terrain.

CRACK!

A massive section of the swamp was torn apart, revealing Magara beneath the mud, glaring up at him in shock.

「What is this?!」

Theo raised his hand, his voice calm but commanding.

“Come.”

Magara’s body jerked upward as though caught in an invisible grip.

「No! Let me go!」

Magara thrashed violently, trying to resist the compulsion. But it was no use—Theo’s authority as a descendant of the Ancient Dragon left no room for defiance.

Tap.

Theo’s hand touched Magara, and the dungeon dissolved into light.

[Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Sudden Quest by capturing Magara.]

Evaluation: S

Reward: Ownership of the Grim Reaper

[You have acquired ownership of the Grim Reaper as a reward.]

When the light dissipated, Theo found himself still standing in front of Lezé, their hands locked in a handshake.

Unlike the chaos of the dungeon, time in the real world had barely moved.

“You!”

Lezé immediately sensed that Theo had done something.

But Theo calmly released her hand, smiling faintly.

“Is there a problem?”

“What…!”

What kind of trick was this?

Lezé wanted to lash out but stopped herself. While she was certain something had occurred, she had no proof. It was absurd to think that Theo—a so-called underling—could deceive her senses and accomplish something significant in such a brief moment.

Who would even suspect that she had just lost ownership of her cherished weapon?

Even if someone did suspect, accusing Theo was nearly impossible. After all, she was the one who had initiated the confrontation, eager to test him.

If word got out that she had been outmaneuvered, it would only damage her reputation further.

Grinding her teeth, Lezé forced herself to remain composed. The playful gleam in her eyes vanished, replaced by cold focus.

“Fine. Since I started this, I’ll let it go this time. I see now why Father mentioned the sixth candidate with such gravity.”

She truly is a candidate for the throne, Theo thought, acknowledging Lezé’s poise.

Her ability to recover so quickly and maintain her dignity was impressive. Theo made a mental note to remain wary of her. People like Lezé were the most dangerous—they would strike when least expected, and with precision.

“I’ve never met someone of your age group, aside from Torquel, who could stand up to me like this. You’re quite something,” Lezé remarked.

“I’m flattered,” Theo replied curtly.

“Say, have you ever considered working under me?”

“No.”

“You didn’t even let me finish,” she said, her tone exasperated.

“You’re asking me to join you, aren’t you? My answer is no.”

“You’re awfully resolute. Did you eat some kind of unyielding squash for breakfast?”

Lezé glanced between Theo and Wellington.

“You two are exactly the same,” she muttered, the hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

However, she didn’t press the matter further. There was no disappointment in her gaze, as though she hadn’t expected him to agree in the first place.

Theo isn’t the kind of person to serve under anyone.

Instead, Lezé turned her attention to Kassandra.

The girl flinched at the approaching presence and pressed herself closer to Theo’s back.

“So, you’re the child Troivan has been so desperate to find—the prophet,” Lezé said softly.

Lowering herself to Kassandra’s eye level, Lezé studied her closely.

Theo’s eyes widened. Her target wasn’t me—it was Kassandra all along.

“I want to ask you something,” Lezé said gently. “Could you answer me?”

Theo’s expression hardened.

Lezé was the one who orchestrated Kassandra’s arrival here!

Inside the Tulip Guild, Theo and his group escorted Kassandra to safety.

Lezé, meanwhile, remained outside, crouched in thought.

One of her Reaper Division members approached cautiously.

“My lady?”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve obtained the answer you sought. Is something troubling you?”

“Troubling? Not at all.”

The question Lezé had asked Kassandra echoed in her mind:

“Can I… become a king?”

The entire operation—learning about a child with prophetic abilities, dispatching Theo’s group to rescue her, and even testing Theo’s skills—had all been part of Lezé’s plan.

If Theo had failed, Deungryong and the Reaper Division were prepared to step in.

After all, it was her agents who had been tracking both Arct and the Blue Demons.

Fortunately, the rescue had succeeded, and Lezé had finally been able to ask the question that had haunted her for so long.

The throne.

Could she, after enduring endless opposition and scrutiny, finally ascend to the seat her father occupied?

Could she become king?

But the answer Kassandra had given…

Lezé couldn’t laugh or cry.

No reaction.

Her cherished weapon, Grim Reaper, which had always resonated with her emotions, was now eerily silent.

In moments of both joy and sorrow, Grim Reaper had been a constant companion, spiritually connected to her.

Now, it felt lifeless—as if it had died.

At that moment, Lezé realized something painful.

The friend she had hoped would stand by her when she ascended to the throne was no longer with her.

The companion she had dreamed of sharing the throne with… was gone.