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He’s amazing.

That thought filled his mind.

When facing Rendon, Theo had noticed so many openings, but with Julius, none could be seen.

Every hand gesture, every movement of the sword, and every moment he drew out his aura—everything seemed to leave a clear impression in his mind.

I want to be like that.

Shoving that sudden thought aside, Theo realized his mistake and hastily bowed respectfully.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I wasn’t hurt. I don’t know how I can repay this favor…”

“What favor? Aren’t we all part of the same Ragnar family? It’s only natural to help when a family member is in danger.”

Family.

That word pierced Theo’s heart deeply.

“Ahem! Well, if you really want to repay the favor… Ahem! You can join the White Armored Dragon Cavalry after the Blossoming Ceremony… Ahem!”

Julius lightly cleared his throat as he spoke, but for some reason, his gaze was intense, unlike his tone.

Gasp!

Theo unconsciously took a startled step back.

Why is he looking at me like that…?

Considering how Julius had helped him, it didn’t seem like he meant any harm.

Then, a thought hit him.

He became curious about what kind of information this giant of a man might hold.

Observe.

[Observing ‘Julius Ragnar’.]

—

Julius Ragnar (41 years old / Male)

· Title: Dark Dragon
· Talents: Leadership, Swordsmanship Genius, Passion for Recruiting Talents, Deep Devotion to Love
· Status: Wants to recruit… no, enlist ‘Theo Ragnar’.

—

Me?

Having lived a life filled with neglect, it was the first time someone of such stature had shown interest in him.

Naturally, the first question that arose was Why?

To Julius, Theo must still seem like nothing more than a novice who hadn’t even shed his beginner status.

“You seemed surprised that the captain suddenly appeared, but there’s no need to worry. Our captain isn’t a scary person.”

Theo, still in a daze, snapped out of it when he felt a hand lightly patting his shoulder from behind.

“Evelyn.”

“That duel just now, it was impressive. However, I think this might not be the best place for a conversation… Shall we move elsewhere? The captain also has something he’d like to say to you.”

[You’ve gained Julius Ragnar’s acknowledgment.]

[Your Luck has increased by 2.]

[You have gained Evelyn Nereville’s acknowledgment.]

[Your Luck has increased by 1.]

As Evelyn winked at him, Theo realized that Julius’s interest wasn’t a joke or a lie.

Without knowing it, Theo clenched his fist tightly.

He still didn’t understand how the captain of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry had come to witness his duel.

Perhaps… his desire to rise might come true sooner than he thought.

* * *

The news of Theo’s duel with Rendon spread quickly throughout the entire House.

“The cripple from the Rose Palace supposedly cut down his swordsmanship instructor!”

The Rose Palace, where the family head’s harem resided, was commonly referred to among the swordsmen as the place of the “cripple of the Rose Palace,” a derogatory term used to insult Theo.

But now, this so-called cripple had apparently won a duel against his own swordsmanship teacher.

Naturally, it drew interest.

Of course, there were some who doubted the truth of the matter.

“Isn’t that a lie?”

“Why?”

“The Blossoming Ceremony is only a few months away. Maybe the cripple of the Rose Palace is pulling some kind of trick?”

“Well, it doesn’t seem like that this time.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“The captain of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry was there.”

“What? Really?”

When the rumor that Julius had witnessed the duel was added, the story gained more credibility.

Some clicked their tongues, wondering how anyone could harm their sword instructor, while others scoffed, saying the teacher must’ve been incompetent to lose to his own disciple.

And with that, the interest and rumors faded.

“So what? Does anything change?”

No one expected much from Theo anyway.

Rendon wasn’t particularly well-known, so the rumors quickly disappeared as if they had never existed.

However, people failed to notice something.

Slowly, yet surely, rumors about Theo had started circulating more frequently.

* * *

That evening.

“What do you think?”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“About the conversation we had today.”

Julius, following Evelyn into the management office of the 4th Training Grounds, brought up the topic of Theo.

Evelyn glared at Julius, who was, without permission, picking out only the most expensive wine from her shelf. She answered while shooting him a sharp look.

“I had the impression that he’s quite thoughtful. But the wine in your hand… you’re not actually planning to drink that, are you?”

“See? As I thought, rumors can’t be trusted.”

Pop!

Julius effortlessly popped the cork with a grin.

Aaah!

Evelyn screamed from the side, but her voice didn’t reach his ears at all.

“That was an interesting meeting.”

Gurgle, gurgle.

As the red wine filled the glass, the memory of that encounter resurfaced in his mind.

“I’m sorry. I appreciate the generous offer, but I’m not ready to be tied down to anything yet.”

When a separate meeting had been held to recruit him, Theo gave his response right away.

For both Julius and Evelyn, it was an unexpected answer.

The White Armored Dragon Cavalry was an elite force that anyone associated with the House of Ragnar aspired to join.

They weren’t just a simple cavalry unit.

Dragon Knights.

Clad in dazzling white armor, they rode specially trained wyverns to guard the northern skies. When they took to the sky, even the monsters of the Demonic Sea would hold their breath in fear.

This special battalion, seen only in the House of Ragnar, was highly esteemed even outside the family.

So, Julius had assumed that recruiting Theo wouldn’t be difficult.

Who would have thought he would reject the offer outright without even hearing the terms?

“With that kind of character, talent, and humility, you really can’t find someone like him anywhere. How am I supposed to reel him in?”

“A-ah… My wine…!”

“I have to bring him in before anyone else tries to snatch him up. You hear stories about rejection, but experiencing it firsthand for the first time, I feel completely dazed.”

“Uh, Captain? The glass is, um… overflowing…”

“Not to brag, but, whether it was men or women, I’ve never been rejected in my life. Maybe that’s why—now that I’ve been rejected, I just can’t help but want him even more. Hmm!”

“…Could you please listen to me for a moment?!”

“Ah, is it that? Maybe he doesn’t want to attract too much attention just yet?”

The wine stopped pouring right before spilling over the rim.

Evelyn, unable to hold herself up any longer, collapsed onto the spot, her legs giving way.

The expensive wine, bought after saving up half a year’s salary, was being wasted before her eyes by her former superior.

The tension she felt wasn’t even this high when she had faced an 8-star swordsman in a fierce pursuit.

But Julius remained trapped in his own world, oblivious to her distress.

“If that’s the case, it makes sense. Even if he’s a dormant dragon ready to stretch, he might still be burdened by the public’s attention. Plus, he wouldn’t want to see the White Armored Dragon Cavalry lose people’s trust because of him.”

Julius, as if realizing something, widened his eyes in sudden understanding.

“Ah, come to think of it, that must be the biggest reason. He’s even considerate enough to worry about our unit. Such thoughtfulness!”

In Julius’s mind, the image of Theo had now been elevated to that of a virtuous saint.

“In that case, we should also match that consideration and find a way to support him… Hmm?”

Julius’s gaze shifted to Evelyn, who was still staring nervously at the wine glass.

Evelyn instinctively flinched, sensing that Julius’s expression had shifted in a way that was anything but ordinary.

From past experience, she knew all too well that whenever he looked at her like this, something strange was about to happen.

She was about to refuse whatever he was going to ask, even before hearing it.

“Evelyn, have you ever thought about becoming a swordsmanship instructor?”

Gasp.

Unconsciously, Evelyn grasped her empty left sleeve with her right hand.

“I…!”

“Ah, don’t say it would be difficult because you’re missing an arm. You’ve lost an arm, not your skills with the sword.”

“…”

Crippled arm.

Julius used this blunt term because Evelyn often referred to herself that way in self-deprecation after her retirement.

“I accepted your retirement because you could no longer hold the reins, not because you couldn’t hold a sword. So, think it over. Isn’t it time for you to rise again?”

Evelyn’s eyes, reflected in the wine-filled glass, trembled intensely.

* * *

“My beloved son, Theo! This mother always knew you would achieve something great one day!”

Upon his return to the palace, Theo couldn’t help but give a bitter smile as he was greeted by Cecilia, her arms spread wide in a welcoming gesture.

“And to think that the captain of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry himself was present! Could it be that he’s taken a liking to you…?”

“Mother, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m quite tired.”

Cecilia, in the middle of trying to embrace Theo, had to stop and awkwardly laugh.

“Is that so? Of course, I understand. You must have seen some terrible things today. Rest well then, and I’ll visit you tomorrow.”

As Cecilia left, Theo let out a small sigh.

A sigh mixed with a myriad of emotions.

Then, he glanced at the maids and butlers who had been sneaking peeks at him.

The moment their eyes met his, they quickly bowed their heads in surprise.

“There’s no need to be so nervous. And from now on, similar things will happen more frequently, so don’t act rashly.”

Theo, barely listening to their replies, made his way to his room and flopped onto the bed.

“It’s tough, really tough. I don’t even know if I’m doing the right thing.”

Rejecting Julius’s offer.

In the eyes of others, it was the perfect decision to be criticized as overstepping his bounds.

But despite what he muttered to himself, Theo had no regrets about his choice.

Because he had faith.

Faith that he could reach even higher places.

In fact, after hearing the offer, he felt even more certain.

‘Even if I were to join the White Armored Dragon Cavalry, I need to raise my value high enough that I’d get offers from other places as well.’

That way, he could begin laying the groundwork to establish his own foundation.

‘The stage for that is the Blossoming Ceremony.’

This year’s Blossoming Ceremony was expected to be “legendary,” attracting countless geniuses and promising talents.

To achieve overwhelming results in such a fierce competition, there was no room for complacency.

‘I need to close the gap with others as much as possible during the remaining time.’

Still lying on the bed, Theo turned his head to the side.

A full-length mirror stood against the wall.

He saw himself in the reflection, lying in the same position on the bed.

Observe.

[Observing ‘Theo Ragnar’.]

—

Theo Ragnar (15 years old / Male)

· Titles: Crippled fool of Ragnar’s blood, Cripple of the Rose Palace.
· Talents: Ragnar, Player, Observation, [Access Denied], [Access Denied], [Access Denied], [Access Denied].
· Status: Strong desire for the Blossoming Ceremony.

—

Theo’s eyes lit up.

If the authority of Observation could be applied to whatever was in his field of vision, then surely, it should also work through his own reflection. Luckily, his hunch was correct.

‘All of the authority falls under the [Talents] category. Does that mean if I continue to complete missions with excellent results, I can unlock four more of these?’

He was already excited about what other talents might be waiting for him.

‘Maybe one of those “permissions” will let me find the items I received as rewards.’

Theo wondered if the authority to access the rewards he’d been granted was among those locked talents.

‘But how do I check my ability stats?’

Since he had received messages indicating stat increases, there had to be an info window somewhere that displayed his stats in numerical form.

Fiddling with the message window, Theo discovered that he could flip it over.

Excitement welled up inside him.

How strong was he now?

—

[Displaying additional information.]

—

Theo Ragnar (15 years old / Male)

· Level: 1
· Stats (▼)
Strength: 13
Agility: 14
Stamina: 12
Magic Power: 190
Intelligence: 11
Luck: -50

· [Access Denied]
· [Access Denied]

—

“…What’s with the negative?”

Theo’s excitement was shattered in an instant.

The Magic Power stat he carried over from his previous life was impressively high, just as he expected.

But the Luck stat’s unexpected negative value made his head spin.

If he looked at it purely in terms of absolute numbers, the negative Luck value was even higher than the additional Magic Power he’d gained from the Aura Heart.

‘My Luck increased by 4 when I faced Rendon, but it’s still this bad?’

‘So this is how high it is after an increase? Ugh… No wonder my previous life, and the life before that, were both filled with such bad luck.’

Unconsciously, Theo rubbed his forehead in frustration.

‘At this point, I’m starting to wonder if I’m cursed or something.’

He still didn’t know exactly what the Luck stat controlled.

But based on what he had observed so far, he had some guesses.

In the short term, it seemed to affect random events or unexpected outcomes. In the long term, it appeared to influence one’s social standing and reputation.

Of course, it was impossible to fully quantify all the misfortunes a person could face, but still—

Theo was grateful just knowing there might be a way to manage his bad luck.

‘The problem now is figuring out how to bring Luck back to zero.’

Since the conditions for increasing his Luck during the duel with Rendon varied, it seemed like he needed more examples to study.

Just as Theo’s thoughts began to deepen—

Ding!

[A quest■ has arrived.]