Chapter 260

Grid left the Ragnar camp in deep contemplation, his face pale with worry.

The Tower had already lost 30% of its forces in the war. The prospect of antagonizing Ragnar further, especially under the newly ascended head, Theo, was unthinkable.

‘Even if the Tower were at full strength, how many could truly stand against Ragnar now…?’

The new military units unveiled by Ragnar during the war promised to revolutionize future conflicts.

“...I will deliver your message,” Grid finally muttered, bowing slightly before hurrying away.

He knew that opposing Ragnar would only invite disaster. The decision to inform the Tower Lord was made with the Tower’s survival in mind.

Theo dismissed the gathering with a firm yet formal tone.

“This concludes the post-war discussions. Each faction is expected to respond sincerely to future communications.”

The representatives began to leave the tent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Vector, the leader of the Beastkin Alliance, exchanged a brief glance with Black Dragon before stepping out. Grid, on the other hand, practically fled the camp, his composure shattered.

“Coward,” Vector muttered, watching Grid’s retreat with satisfaction before heading back to his forces.

Boar Felton, of the Gentlemen’s Union, rose to leave but was stopped by Theo.

“Wait. You have something to take with you.”

Boar turned, his eyes widening as he saw the body of Ronan, a high-ranking assassin of the Gentlemen’s Union.

“...Thank you,” Boar said sincerely.

While many of their forces had perished in the Naga Forest, recovering even one comrade’s body was an unexpected gift.

“We’ll see each other again in Winterer,” Boar said as he carried Ronan’s body out.

Now, only Hans Mulligan remained. As he prepared to leave, Julius tossed him a small, glowing object.

“Take this. Let it serve as a token of our continued friendship.”

Hans caught the object—a rainbow stone, identical to the one previously gifted to his late brother, Tan Mulligan.

For a moment, Hans stared at it in silence, his expression conflicted. Then, he nodded firmly.

“Thank you. Until next time.”

With Hans gone, the room fell silent.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Not bad for his first formal debut,” Black Dragon said, a satisfied smile on his face.

The post-war meeting had achieved several key goals:

Isolation of the Tower: By placing the blame squarely on the Tower, Ragnar ensured its diminished influence among the other factions.

Diplomatic Strength: Theo’s handling of the meeting left a strong impression on the other representatives, solidifying Ragnar’s position as a dominant force.

“By now, the Tower must feel utterly cornered,” Black Dragon added.

Theo nodded, silently admiring the foresight that had led to the recovery of Ronan’s and Bluebeard’s bodies.

‘Even in the chaos of war, Black Dragon’s ability to think strategically is unparalleled.’

“Once we return to Winterer, we have much to prepare for,” Black Dragon continued, his gaze briefly resting on Wellington’s covered body.

Though Wellington had been declared a traitor in life, Theo was determined to honor him in death. A private ceremony would be held to restore his name and recognize his sacrifices.

“Yes,” Theo said, his voice steady. “We should depart as soon as possible.”

As he looked out at the horizon, the forest—once twisted into a demonic domain—had begun to regain its natural beauty. The towering trees and lush greenery, though scarred by battle, were starting to heal.

‘The mysteries of this place will have to wait.’

The thought of exploring the underwater city hidden within the Naga Forest lingered in Theo’s mind.

“Even so, the loss among the White Armored Drakes is significant,” Julius reported as he entered. “More than half were lost in the battle.”

Theo sighed but nodded.

By contrast, the forces Theo had raised in the northeastern region had performed exceptionally, securing a decisive victory with minimal losses.

‘A clan leader must balance emotions. Like Kyle did.’

Theo thought of Kyle’s stoic demeanor and began to understand it. To lead Ragnar meant carrying the burdens of the entire clan while remaining impartial to both triumph and tragedy.

A Visit to the Naga’s Sanctuary

Before departing, Theo made his way to the Naga Forest’s heart, where the Naga’s sacred pool was located.

“Welcome,” said Elder Terepun, greeting him with a wide smile.

The sacred pool shimmered, and one by one, the Naga people emerged, their expressions filled with gratitude.

“Welcome, savior!”

“The forest has returned!”

“Prepare a celebration!”

“Bring the finest treasures!”

“...A marriage proposal!”

Theo chuckled awkwardly at their exuberance.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but duty calls. Let’s save the celebrations for another time.”

A wave of disappointment swept through the Naga, but Terepun smiled understandingly and extended his hand.

“Will you return to us?”

“Yes,” Theo replied. “Ragnar will support the restoration of the forest. You have our word.”

Terepun nodded, then reached into his robes, producing a prismatic scale.

“This belonged to our first leader. Let it serve as a token of our friendship.”

The scale shimmered with a rainbow-like iridescence, emanating a faint, mysterious energy.

‘It feels similar to the energy I sensed in the pool...’

Theo examined the scale.

[Scale of the Naga’s First Leader]

Type: Relic, Consumable

Requirements: None

Effects:

Grants underwater breathing.

???: Additional effects unlocked upon reaching a specific location.

Theo’s gaze lingered on the final line.

‘Could this be connected to the underwater city?’

The possibilities piqued his curiosity, but he forced himself to focus. For now, the mysteries of the Naga Forest would have to wait.

As Theo left the Naga Sanctuary, Elder Terepun’s words lingered in his mind.

“Thank you. Ragnar will always be an ally of the Naga people. Should you face danger, we will come to your aid without hesitation.”

Though Theo didn’t leave a physical token of his promise, his words carried a weight of sincerity that deeply resonated with Terepun.

“Thank you, young lord. You have much work ahead of you, I’m sure.”

“Yes. I will return once stability has been restored,” Theo promised before taking his leave.

Back at the Ragnar camp, Theo was greeted by a familiar, lively presence.

“Theo!”

Evelyn, her fiery red hair catching the sunlight, ran toward him with a bright smile.

Despite her injuries and the loss of her prosthetic arm in the battle, her spirit seemed unbroken. Seeing her, Theo made a mental note to commission a stronger, more reliable replacement.

‘Why does this remind me of Lodbrok?’

The thought of his loyal dragon companion naturally came to mind, but before Theo could dwell on it further, Lodbrok’s voice interrupted.

『Absolutely not!』

Lodbrok’s tone was urgent, almost jealous, though Theo couldn’t quite discern the exact reason for the outburst.

“Evelyn,” Theo greeted her warmly, but before he could say more, Julius appeared behind her, his expression calm yet tinged with a subtle shadow.

“Hmm. I told you to rest more,” Julius said with a cough, attempting to mask his concern.

“This is nothing,” Evelyn replied curtly, her tone characteristically indifferent. However, she added softly, “Shouldn’t you be the one resting, given how busy you must be?”

For a moment, an awkward yet tender tension filled the air between the two. Theo observed the exchange with mild amusement, recalling Julius’s unspoken feelings for Evelyn.

‘Has he still not confessed? Typical.’

Even so, Evelyn’s faint blush betrayed that she wasn’t entirely oblivious to Julius’s feelings.

“Also, you should call him lord now,” Julius reminded her with a teasing smirk.

Evelyn blinked in confusion before realization dawned.

“Wait… Have I been unconscious for that long?!”

The notion that Kyle was no longer there—and that Theo had ascended to the position of Ragnar’s head—was difficult for her to process.

“You didn’t lose the position of White Armored Vanguard Commander, did you?” Evelyn asked, a rare hint of humor slipping into her tone.

“Hardly. As long as you’re around, do you think I’d relinquish it so easily?” Theo retorted with a grin.

Evelyn’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of red, and Julius awkwardly averted his gaze.

『This is unexpectedly entertaining.』

Lodbrok’s voice carried a hint of mirth, enjoying the innocent scene. Theo decided to step aside, leaving the pair to their moment. Behind him, their light-hearted bickering continued, but Theo paid it no mind as he moved toward the camp’s outer edge.

The Aftermath

As Theo walked through the camp, the somber reality of the battle struck him. The sight of countless wyvern corpses and the remnants of the fierce conflict painted a vivid picture of the war’s devastation.

The White Armored Vanguard, stoic as ever, worked tirelessly to recover equipment from the wyverns’ bodies and to respectfully handle the remains of their fallen comrades.

Theo noticed familiar faces among the deceased, each loss weighing heavily on his heart.

“I’ll help,” he said simply, joining the efforts.

His decision to work alongside the soldiers wasn’t just symbolic—it was a statement of his leadership philosophy. Unlike Kyle’s overwhelming, authoritative presence, Theo sought to lead by example, sharing in the burdens of his people.

“The young lord himself is lending a hand! Let’s get moving, everyone!”

Though they were unaware of Theo’s new title, the White Armored Vanguard took heart from his actions. Seeing their leader work beside them infused their efforts with renewed vigor.

For Theo, the titles and formalities mattered little. What truly mattered was earning the trust and respect of his people through actions, not words. He firmly believed that this was the essence of leadership—shouldering responsibility and guiding others through deeds.

As Theo continued to work, he silently vowed:

‘This is the kind of leader I’ll become. One who leads not with words but with conviction.’