Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan-Chapter 119: The Mystery of Dragon-Slaying (4)

A new memory of Kriemhild resurfaced.

*Whoosh!*

*Huff... Huff...!*

Kriemhild was breathing heavily, gripping her sword that was driven into the ground, pinning the head of an evil dragon who lay limp, skewered by her blade. The dragon’s final strength allowed it to roll its eyes upwards, capturing the face of its slayer.

“My own rib bone fashioned into the sword that pierced my skull... And you, the one who struck me down, were once my friend who gave their heart.”

The dragon chuckled.

To Kriemhild, he had been her only friend in a life that had spanned millennia—a friend who had approached her as she lay dying under the curse of *Oblivion,* showing her kindness beyond the bounds of species.

“Don’t mourn for me, my friend. Though we part here, my rest is sweeter knowing you’ll guard it. I am truly blessed.”

“Levi...”

“But if this is to be our parting, I have one last request. Will you honor it?”

“...Yes.”

“The twin blades I gave you... Keep them hidden until a worthy successor arises. Only then should both blades be held together.”

Kriemhild sensed why Levi had asked her this favor.

“It’s because of that... that *Oblivion*, right?”

“Yes. The curse will return someday, and it will try to shroud this world in shadow. It is but a remnant of an ancient existence, forgotten now.”

“...Understood. I won’t let anyone suffer like we have.”

“Thank you. I truly found a good friend.”

With those words, the dragon, Levi, sank into the depths of the ocean as the earth beneath him began to crumble, carrying with him the sword that would one day be known as *Valmung.*

Kriemhild watched him disappear. Her mind was filled with memories—her friend, who had ultimately been consumed by his curse and transformed into a monstrous dragon. And she herself, who, by proximity, had gained immunity to the curse but had been forced to bear the title of *Dragonslayer.*

After an endless battle, she had driven her sword into her friend’s neck, ending the tragic war between them.

*...*

Much time had passed before Kriemhild finally removed the other twin sword from her waist, planting it in the ground, and stood.

Then, she turned her gaze to Theo.

“This mystery was arranged as a safeguard to honor my friend Levi’s dying wish. I never expected it to end up in the hands of a northerner blessed by dragons.”

She looked Theo up and down before continuing.

“You even revived using my remains? A partner to dragons wielding Dragonslayer traits and immunity. What a marvel of invincibility you’ve become!”

There was admiration in her voice, clearly impressed by Theo’s unique approach to the mystery.

Theo bowed respectfully.

“I formally introduce myself: I am Theo Ragnar.”

“Kriemhild. I was once a nameless slave before I became *the Dragonslayer* and was given this name.”

A faintly ironic smile crossed her lips, and her gaze deepened, losing the softness of the young girl Theo had glimpsed in her earlier memories. Now, her eyes held the hardened, battle-worn gaze of a veteran.

“The fact that this mystery has awakened means Levi has also awakened from his deep slumber, correct?”

“Yes, in this era, he is called the ‘Sea King.’”

“The ‘King of the Sea’... He would like that name. There’s no time for long conversations, so I’ll keep it brief. Draw your sword.”

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

This was a chance to learn directly from Kriemhild.

Theo raised his sword, the Drake Blade, which had suffered considerable wear from his battles with the Dragon Tooth soldiers.

“Because of the work of *Oblivion*, this world is now filled with beings like Levi, or guardians similar to him.”

Oblivion.

Theo realized that the term referred to the *Nameless Lord*.

“And those ‘guardians’ have left relics behind that humans now call *mysteries*, remnants or arrangements from ancient times, nearly forgotten.”

“...!”

“So, mysteries were created to guard against the Nameless Lord?”

Not just the relics of the primordial dragons?

Theo’s heart pounded as he began to grasp a hidden truth of the world.

*Thump!*

“And to access these mysteries, Levi left behind a ‘key’—a pair of twin swords, *Valmung* and *Hrathi*, which he carved from his own ribs.”

Theo clenched his fist.

A new path he hadn’t anticipated was unfolding before him.

“So, I will teach you how to wield Valmung, one of those swords. I call this style...”

Theo focused all his attention on Kriemhild’s movements.

“*Nibelung.*”

She raised her sword.

“In ancient tongue, it means ‘Destruction.’”

Kriemhild’s instruction began.

* * *

“What’s all this noise?”

Umberto removed his glasses, frowning as a subordinate burst into his study.

“Lord Umberto! It’s an emergency—the Kriemhild Colossus is collapsing!”

“...Explain yourself. What exactly is happening?”

“The mystery has gone into overdrive! The colossus guards and even the entire alliance have been placed on high alert!”

“Antoniou, that fool! What has he done now?!”

Black Skull’s access to the colossus had only been possible because of Umberto’s intervention. He hadn’t actually expected his young son or his misguided friends to obtain the mystery’s power, but he thought it prudent to back their efforts just in case.

Now, the unexpected had turned disastrous.

The entire Floating Archipelago would learn of the mystery’s volatility, and Black Skull—and by association, the Spinola family—could bear the blame.

“Where are Grimel and Romelin? What are they doing?”

Umberto needed to act before the other three ruling families intervened.

But—

“Grimel’s head has mobilized his forces and is moving toward the colossus...”

“Damn it!”

*Bang!*

Umberto struck his desk in frustration.

Grimel, a family allied with Troyban, wielded immense power in the world of finance, and had long maintained a favorable relationship with them.

Meanwhile, Spinola, a family firmly opposed to Troyban, was positioned in stark contrast to Grimel.

If the Kriemhild Colossus—an ancestral icon of the Floating Archipelago—were to be damaged, and Grimel sought retribution, Troyban’s influence would increase.

“The thought of surrendering the Floating Archipelago to those barbarians!”

The problem was that Grimel’s head was moving his Ghostslayer forces—mercenaries rumored to be a covert deployment from Troyban itself, well-known for their ruthless skill.

“If those mercenaries arrive, this could turn into a fight for control of the entire Archipelago.”

“Gather all of our people. Tell them to prepare for war if it comes to it. We’re going to the colossus.”

“Yes, sir.”

The subordinate quickly left.

Umberto grabbed his coat and clenched his fist. Facing Troyban, backed by Grimel’s wealth, he wondered what future awaited the Floating Archipelago.

The prospect already looked bleak.

* * *

“Haha! It looks like Umberto’s greed has finally buried him,” said Giuseppe Grimel, head of the Grimel family, his laugh booming.

The man sitting across from him merely nodded, his face obscured by a wooden mask.

“Do not become overconfident. Pride can be the downfall of any plan,” the masked man said in a rasping voice, laden with dark magic that sent a chill down Giuseppe’s spine.

This man was *Noyl,* the ninth in Troyban’s hierarchy.

The Ghostslayers referred to him as such—a title that marked him as one of Troyban’s Nine Patrons.

“If Troyban’s patrons are all like this... then it’s best to avoid crossing them,” Giuseppe thought.

He was certain now that the Floating Archipelago’s fate lay with Troyban.

“Should I stray from the path, I know I can trust you to correct me,” Giuseppe said smoothly.

“Your tongue is as slick as ever,” Noyl replied.

Giuseppe only chuckled.

“Consider it my respect for your guidance.”

Noyl returned to the topic at hand.

“The Ghostslayers will intercept Black Skull just as they leave. Antoniou will be captured and taken directly to the imperial court.”

“Black Skull is already branded as a rebel force by the empire. If they’re tied to Spinola, it will leave the Archipelago’s council and shipping alliance with no choice but to ally with Troyban.”

“The Archipelago’s military strength will be cut in half—are you prepared for that?”

“Won’t Troyban supply reinforcements?”

*Tsk.*

Noyl clicked his tongue in distaste as he watched Giuseppe laugh.

Giuseppe seemed to think that with enough money, he could control Troyban itself.

But...

“Soon, he’ll learn that there are things money can’t buy,” Noyl thought with cold amusement.

“Make sure we secure Antoniou, Umberto’s son,” Giuseppe said.

“That is the Ghostslayers’ specialty,” Noyl replied, his chilling voice once again sending a shiver down Giuseppe’s spine as he envisioned the Floating Archipelago’s future under his control.

* * *

“Gray... After Slow, you too...” Antoniou clenched his teeth, seeing the bodies of the Gray Gang scattered around the colossus.

The worst possible scenario had come to pass.

“Theo! Theo!”

“Where are you? If you’re

here, answer!”

Meanwhile, Selford and Arin frantically searched for Theo, though they found no sign of him.

Just then, Rey spoke up.

“We can’t buy any more time.”

Both of their faces turned serious.

The only reason they were able to keep searching was thanks to Rey’s frost, which held back the searing winds around the colossus.

Before they could ask how much longer Rey could hold, Selford sensed something.

“Someone’s here.”

Selford turned toward a bright light that cut through the flames and dust.

From beyond the flames, pairs of menacing eyes appeared, each one exuding a murderous intent.

“It’s the guards? No, these guys have too much killing intent... like Troyban...”

*Thud! Thud!*

Without warning, the figures leapt over the flames, landing right before the group.

“Arin! Ice Blade!”

While Arin and Rey held off the surprise attack, Selford dashed toward Antoniou.

*Clang! Clang!*

Just barely rescuing Antoniou, Selford leveled his sword at the attackers.

“So, you’re the infamous Black Skull brought by Antoniou. I must say, you’re impressive to block my blade,” the enemy sneered.

Selford pressed his sword to Antoniou’s neck.

“Move another inch, and his head hits the floor.”

Feeling the cold steel against his neck, Antoniou flinched, but Selford didn’t care.

The enemy watched, then smirked.

“Son of Spinola, huh? Though the higher-ups wanted you alive, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt if you died in a little hostage scuffle.”

With that, he advanced, daring Selford to strike.

*Urgh! Urgh!*

Antoniou writhed in fear, but Selford realized something.

These were not ordinary guards; they belonged to a third faction...

The words Theo had mentioned briefly echoed in his mind.

*Troyban.*

“Your tongue wags well,” Selford sneered, parrying blows with the enemy.

From their fighting style, he could tell that this group had all the markings of Troyban’s infamous *Ghostslayers.*

But more enemies were joining the fray, blocking any possible escape route.

*Crack!*

Just then, the colossus made a groaning sound, as though it would collapse at any moment.

The giant statue’s head, which had been angled downward, slowly turned to the side.

And the colossus’s eyes glowed, casting a fierce light directly upon the Ghostslayers.