Chapter 139

“The Tulip Floral Guild isn’t merely a place for arranging flowers. This is a sacred mausoleum honoring the ancestors who rest beneath it.”

Od led Theo’s group through the guild, emphasizing the sanctity of the location.

He thought that reminding them of this holy site might make these brash individuals a bit more restrained.

However—

*“These muscle-brained fools!”*

His efforts seemed wasted.

Only Wellington nodded politely, while Ray yawned openly, and Selpard and Arin exchanged jokes. Theo appeared entirely lost in his thoughts.

Od felt an intense urge to lecture them for hours, forcing them to kneel and listen.

---

**「Give it up. Youths these days don’t care much for places like this.」**

Deungryong’s amused voice echoed in Od’s mind, noticing his stern glare.

**「How can you say that? This is a site filled with the spirit and soul of the North!」**

**「Spirit doesn’t put food on the table, nor does it pay the bills.」**

**「How dare you compare history and tradition to such trivial matters?」**

**「Do you know what people these days would call someone like you?」**

**「What would that be?」**

**「A boomer.」**

**「You…!!」**

Od’s face flushed bright red as though ready to explode.

Deungryong chuckled.

**「I understand how much pride you take in your duties and how important this mission is to you. But you can’t force others to share that passion. The younger generation has different interests.」**

Od pressed his lips together tightly.

**「Besides, if you think about it, weren’t we the same at their age? More focused on ourselves and our immediate surroundings rather than the family’s duties?」**

It was advice Od didn’t like but couldn’t deny.

Still, he refused to fully concede, puffing out his cheeks petulantly.

**「Don’t lump me in with you, old man. We’re not even from the same generation.」**

**「This ungrateful brat—!」**

---

While the two bickered, Theo remained deep in thought, replaying the conversation between Lezé and Kassandra.

*Can I become a king?*

Lezé’s question to Kassandra echoed in his mind.

Even for someone vying for the throne, asking such a thing outright to a prophet seemed reckless.

*This could easily be construed as treason.*

Openly discussing the throne, rather than merely succession rights, while Kyle still reigned was dangerous. Yet Lezé seemed unconcerned.

Whether it was confidence or desperation, Theo couldn’t tell.

What troubled him more was Kassandra’s answer.

*“Yes.”*

Short, but unequivocal.

The mood among Lezé’s Reaper Division shifted noticeably afterward.

Theo’s group pretended not to have heard, though the weight of the moment wasn’t lost on Theo.

Initially shocked, Theo soon noticed a contradiction.

*Lezé ultimately fails—and it’s Torquel who ends her.*

In his past life, the conflict between Lezé and Torquel culminated in Lezé’s death.

Her elimination as one of the Five Candidates had sent shockwaves across the northern territories.

*And yet Kassandra claims Lezé will become a king. Does that mean…*

1. Kassandra’s prophecy was incomplete.

2. Theo’s knowledge of history was already diverging.

Or perhaps there was a third explanation:

*The Wheel of Time.*

Kassandra’s earlier prophecy lingered in Theo’s thoughts:

*"The king of the dead rewinds the wheel."*

The imagery of the tarot card depicting the Wheel of Death resurfaced in his mind.

*If a dead king still counts as a king…*

Lezé’s mistake, Theo mused, was in phrasing her question too broadly. A more specific query—like asking about becoming *the king of the North*—might have clarified things.

But all of this was speculation. Theo felt certain he wasn’t wrong.

---

Od’s voice brought Theo back to the present as they entered the central building of the guild.

The structure was an enormous glass greenhouse.

The scent of tulips filled the air, mingling with the solemn presence of gravestones scattered throughout the garden.

“In ancient times, long before recorded history, a horde of beasts emerged from beyond the seas and overran the North, pushing as far as this very place,” Od began, gesturing to the weathered gravestones.

“To counter them, Ragnar formed a company of 299 warriors. They gave their lives to stop the beasts and their king. It was here they made their final stand.”

Od pointed out that there were exactly 299 gravestones.

“Though Ragnar emerged victorious, and the beast king retreated to the seas, the loss of our finest warriors marked the beginning of Ragnar’s decline. The world, instead of honoring Ragnar’s sacrifice, simply forgot it.”

At those words, Selpard, Arin, and even Ray straightened their postures. The heavy atmosphere was palpable.

“During the dark centuries that followed, the clan fell into ruin until our ancestor, Aslaug, rose to restore it. Despite the suffering we endured, we must not regret our sacrifices. They are a source of pride—a testament to Ragnar’s history.”

Od’s voice grew firm.

“Be angry that the world forgot our sacrifice, but never regret it. The decisions of our ancestors must be honored, not questioned.”

---

*The war against the Nameless Sovereign.*

Theo’s eyes lingered on the gravestones.

The phrase *“king of the dead”* kept circling his thoughts, drawing him back to Kassandra’s prophecy.

---

“Did you make good use of the heart?”

Deungryong’s question pulled Theo from his reverie.

He was referring to Garuda’s heart.

Theo quickly bowed. “Yes, thanks to you.”

“Good. It seems to have been effective,” Deungryong remarked, his gaze appraising Theo’s improved musculature and frame.

It was evident that Theo had grown rapidly, now embodying a warrior worthy of representing Ragnar.

---

Later that evening, Theo and Wellington stood in the guild’s backyard, preparing for a sparring session.

“You’re still training this diligently, even during missions?” Wellington asked, feigning exhaustion.

“A dull blade is no good to anyone,” Theo replied.

“Well, maybe you could afford to dull yourself a bit. It’d give the rest of us a chance to catch up,” Wellington joked.

“But aren’t you here to train too?”

“Touche.”

Wellington stretched his legs, his well-defined muscles a testament to his rigorous training under Deungryong.  n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

---

“Wellington.”

“What is it?”

“How about a duel? It’s been a while.”

“Gladly.”

The two picked up training swords, their movements deliberate and calculated as they faced each other.

For a moment, it felt like their first meeting all over again.

*Clang!*

Their blades crossed lightly at first, but the air between them grew tense.

*Swish!*

Just as they prepared to go all out, a chilling sensation ran down their spines.

---

“Theo!” Wellington called out.

“Yes. Something’s coming,” Theo replied, his voice sharp.

Their eyes turned toward the guild building—specifically, the room where Kassandra was staying.

Without hesitation, both men launched themselves in that direction.