Chapter 143

"What? You let them escape? And after deploying the ballistae?"

"The resistance from the man in platinum armor was far too intense..."

"Useless fools!!"

The commander of the Azure Fang unit felt a sharp pain in his head, frustration bubbling over.

The encirclement had been meticulously crafted, bringing together not just the forces of the Holy Light Cult but also remnants of the old Kyoryong Society. Yet, their target had slipped through their fingers.

If Lord Arct learns of this... my head will be the first to roll.

Arct, one of the Nine Vanguard Commanders, was infamous for his cold ruthlessness. Just as he had erased the Red-White Mercenary Corps without hesitation, he could easily do the same to the Azure Fang.

"Heh. It seems things didn’t go as planned," a sly voice interrupted.

The commander turned to see an old man approaching with a faint smirk.

The sudden presence of the man caused the Azure Fang soldiers to step back in alarm. Clad in the black robes and mitre of the Holy Light Cult, he radiated authority.

This was Bishop Kali, the leader of the Holy Light Cult’s forces for this operation. As someone occupying a mid-tier rank within the six-tier hierarchy—below Cardinal and Archbishop but above ordinary priests—his presence alone was enough to command respect.

"Damn it," the Azure Fang commander muttered internally. He frowned but remained silent. Any sharp response now would only expose his vulnerability.

"If the Prophet and those Ragnar fools manage to reach the true mausoleum, what then? How will you answer for that failure?"

The commander clenched his jaw but stayed quiet.

Arct and the Azure Fang weren’t chasing Cassandra just for her prophetic abilities. They needed her to locate the burial site of the 299 warriors—the true mausoleum.

Hidden within it was the long-coveted treasure, The Sword Codex of the Chosen One.

This legendary artifact was a remnant of an ancient figure, almost forgotten even within Ragnar.

Odd, the head of the Tulip Floral Guild, had secretly served as its caretaker.

"Don’t forget," Kali continued sharply, "that our Holy Light Cult is equally determined to locate this place. The Prophet is crucial for uncovering traces of our god. That site could become a sacred ground for us!"

Additionally, the 299 warriors who had stood against the Nameless Sovereign were both enemies of the Holy Light Cult and potential clues to the resurrection of their deity.

This was one of the reasons the Holy Light Cult had allied with the godless Troiban faction, despite the sacrilege.

The Azure Fang commander clenched his teeth, his gaze shifting away in frustration.

Boom! Crash!

Two streaks of opposing light clashed in a blinding sphere, causing the very air to tremble.

Deungryong and Arct, two supreme warriors, were locked in combat, their energies distorting reality itself.

Once their spatial arena closed, the battle would reach its conclusion.

Before that happened, the hidden targets had to be found.

"Send word to ‘Alpha,’" the commander finally ordered.

It was time to play their trump card—a hidden blade buried deep within the enemy’s ranks.

"Tell them it doesn’t matter if their cover is blown. The mission must be completed at all costs."

***

[Congratulations! You have successfully escorted the Prophet who gazes upon time to a safe location and completed Scenario Quest #4.]

[Evaluation: S]

[As a reward, a clue about will soon be given.]

[Additional Reward: Enhanced Channeling with Rodbrok.]

Theo stared wide-eyed at the messages before him.

This place is considered safe?

What caught his attention even more was the additional reward: enhanced channeling with Rodbrok.

And, as if on cue—

『Heh. So, while I’ve been digesting Leviathan’s Heart, you’ve stumbled upon something interesting.』

‘Are you now able to communicate, Rodbrok?’

『Communication was always possible after your Dragon Blood Awakening. I simply shut it off temporarily to focus on digestion. But that aside—』

Rodbrok chuckled slyly.

『Still calling me Rodbrok, huh? How heartless for someone who claims to be my partner.』

‘...What should I call you then?’

『Rody. Isn’t it an adorable name?』

It sounded like a name you’d give to a child’s toy, not a majestic and imposing being like Rodbrok.

『What? You don’t like it?』

‘Not at all, it suits you perfectly!’

『Doesn’t it?』

‘Absolutely! It’s a flawless choice! How did you come up with such a fitting name?’

『Heh heh. What else is there to do when you’re stuck in this cave?』

Theo played along with Rodbrok’s banter, then cautiously shifted the conversation.

There was a wistful tone in Rodbrok’s voice, and Theo wanted to explore it.

‘Do you know where this place is?’

『Of course. This is where my old comrades and I are buried.』

‘Ah.’

Theo suddenly remembered what the coffins in this place represented. The individuals here had been the ones who stood against the Nameless Sovereign.

It wouldn’t be surprising if one of them was the .

『Though I didn’t expect their spirits to linger this vividly.』

Rodbrok used Theo’s eyes to observe the translucent figures gathered around the coffins—some sitting, others standing in clusters. He let out a dry laugh.

“He really can see us, huh?”

“Whoa. Whoa!”

“A living person! A living person we can talk to! Hallelujah! Finally, someone other than these grim-faced bastards!”

“Hey, we’re sick of looking at your ugly mug too! But isn’t that guy also a man?”

“But he’s got two lovely ladies with him! That’s something!”

Their chatter was so loud and boisterous that Theo began to question whether they were really supposed to be the honorable warriors of Ragnar.

‘The somber atmosphere just shattered into pieces.’

『...I wept for their noble sacrifice, and now I feel like I wasted my tears. They’re worse than giggling schoolgirls.』

As Rodbrok grumbled, a voice broke through Theo’s thoughts.

“What are you standing there for?”

Odd stood a short distance away, glaring at Theo with her usual blunt expression.

From her perspective, unaware of Theo’s situation, his behavior was baffling.

“It’s nothing,” Theo replied quickly, falling into step behind her.

“Your companions are resting over there. Go see them.”

“Oh, he’s headed that way!”

“So, the boy our caretaker brought in is with those people? Perfect, let’s tag along. It’s been dull around here.”

“Wait, are you sure he saw us? He’s not even looking this way anymore.”

“That’s what we’re going to find out! Come on!”

“Of course, we’re going!”

“Thank you,” Theo said aloud, ignoring the ghostly chatter.

“And remember,” Odd said sternly, “this is a sacred place where ancient spirits rest. Do not cause any disturbances or show disrespect.”

“Oh, we’re spirits, all right. Such a respectful caretaker!”

“But isn’t a little noise fun? Too much silence is boring!”

“Yes, I understand,” Theo replied earnestly.

“Good. I’ll leave you here for now. I need to check outside.”

Whispering and Murmurs

The faint murmuring of voices surrounded Theo as he tried to suppress the growing headache pounding in his skull. Ignoring the sounds as best he could, he made his way toward Selphard and the others.

‘I’ll just keep pretending I can’t hear them.’

『Agreed.』

Suddenly, a loud screech interrupted his thoughts.

“Keeeek!”

Umbra, the winged beast, lunged toward him in a show of relief. Theo reached out and stroked its head affectionately before bowing slightly toward Selphard.

“Thank you for your efforts,” Theo said.

“What effort? You’re the one who did all the hard work. You were practically flying out there,” Selphard replied, smirking.

“It was thanks to the items,” Theo said modestly.

“Hey, too much humility is just annoying. Act more like a Ragnar. Be arrogant; it suits you better.”

Scratching his cheek, Theo gave a sheepish smile.

“Anyway,” Selphard continued, “once we’re back, I’ll propose your promotion to Senior Knight.”

Theo’s eyes gleamed at the prospect.

Promotion.

It was always good to hear.

“Do you think that’s possible?” Theo asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

“With your skills? Definitely. The only thing left is earning enough recognition,” Selphard said before pausing, his brow furrowing.

“Though, now that I think about it, maybe letting you rise too fast isn’t great either. Might go to your head. Perhaps you need to experience a bit of hardship first?”

Selphard grinned mischievously, his teasing drawing a small chuckle from Theo.

Being around Selphard was never boring.

‘Cassandra seems exhausted.’

Theo’s gaze shifted to Cassandra, who was sleeping soundly with her head resting on Arin’s lap.

A faint smile crossed his lips. It was no wonder she was so tired; her frail body had endured days of relentless travel and stress.

Feeling a pang of sympathy, Theo reached out to gently brush Cassandra’s hair.

Then—

Tap, tap.

A prodding sensation poked at his side.

“Hey, kid.”

Theo froze, the voice clearly directed at him.

“You can hear us, can’t you?”

“……”

“Hmm. We’ve been calling you for a while, but you’re not answering.”

“Maybe it was a fluke earlier when our eyes met?”

“No, he definitely saw us! This is so frustrating!”

“Oh, wait. Is he ignoring us on purpose?”

“Why would he do that? Are we scary?”

"The ghosts seem to think he’s ignoring them out of fear of the supernatural," Theo thought, suppressing a sigh.

These spectral figures were once a famed group, celebrated even by Rodbrok himself for their exceptional abilities. Conversations with them could undoubtedly offer immense insights, especially into the ancient swordsmanship Theo was so eager to learn.

However, their personalities presented a significant challenge.

Centuries of conscious existence trapped within this place had left them... peculiar. Theo could already tell that engaging with them might be overwhelming, a whirlwind of chatter that could drown his focus.

『What’s the plan? Going to keep ignoring them?』

"That’s the best option for now," Theo thought, stifling a wry smile.

Shifting his attention, he decided to broach another topic with Rodbrok.

"Rodbrok—"

『Roddy.』

Theo hesitated. "...Pardon me, Roddy. Do you know anything about the ‘Secret of Time’?"

Rodbrok hummed thoughtfully. 『That’s a rather broad question. Are you referring to the knowledge tied to the Selector’s regression?』

Theo’s intuition told him that the reward for uncovering the "Secret of Time" hinged on how he navigated and approached the details.

"Do you know that the Imperial family has long possessed the ability to foresee the future?"

『The Insight of the Oracle, yes. Why? Have you encountered someone with such a gift?』

Theo’s gaze shifted to Cassandra, still asleep beside him.

『Ah, that girl, is it? And she’s blind? How fitting—she embodies the ideal conditions for extraordinary abilities.』

"Ideal conditions?"

『Since ancient times, children born with profound abilities—especially those of divine nature—have often carried certain… defects. The gods themselves are no strangers to imperfection.』

Rodbrok’s words painted vivid images in Theo’s mind:

The crippled smithing god.

The one-eyed celestial deity.

The god of art unable to love.

The war god who had lost all reason...

The pantheon of gods was riddled with figures bearing unique flaws, their power stemming as much from their limitations as their strengths.

『Blind but able to see the future—a paradox, yet also a gift. The greater the burden, the brighter the ability shines.』n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

It was a confirmation of Cassandra’s exceptional foresight.

Theo nodded in understanding. Cassandra’s prophetic abilities, inherited from the imperial line, were reputed to be unparalleled.

"But is prophecy truly possible?"

『Why do you ask?』

"If the future is fixed, immutable… then isn’t the concept of prophecy redundant?"

『Ah, you’re questioning determinism. If everything is predestined, then what purpose does regression serve?』

"Exactly," Theo affirmed with a heavy nod.

Rodbrok chuckled softly.

『The future she sees is not the true future.』

"What do you mean?"

『It’s closer to a “possibility.” It shows the fragment of what is most probable within causality, based on past “data.”』

"Data?" Theo questioned.

『The Insight of the Oracle is not the same as what you humans would call . Think of it as glancing at residual traces of a past universe that no longer exists—remnants of ‘what wasn’t.’』

The explanation was baffling, each word denser than the last.

Yet, Theo—armed with his memories of both regression and reincarnation—began piecing together a possibility.

"Are you saying… could it be…"

Rodbrok chuckled, amused by Theo’s dawning realization.

『Humans often perceive time as a that stretches infinitely. But that is not the case.』

Rodbrok’s laughter deepened, his voice laced with growing intensity.

『Time is a . It loops endlessly, like the ouroboros, the serpent devouring its own tail.』

Theo froze, his breath hitching.

『This world, like you, my dear companion, undergoes , cycling infinitely.』

[You have successfully obtained partial information about the “Secret of Time” from Rodbrok.]

[A new quest has been initiated.]

[Scenario Quest #6]

Using the knowledge of the “Secret of Time,” delve deeper into Cassandra’s abilities and uncover the truths behind .

Difficulty: S

Reward: ■■Regression Power

Failure Penalty: Death

Even as the quest details unfolded before him, Theo’s mind remained fixated on one burning question.

"Roddy," Theo began, his voice measured. "If time truly loops infinitely in a … who or what resets it back to its starting point?"

Rodbrok’s pause was telling, his tone heavy with implication.

『You’ve already begun to suspect the answer, haven’t you?』

Theo’s expression turned rigid, his suspicions hardening into certainty.

"Then, that being… it’s the , isn’t it?"