Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 320

“The procedure is complete. He will regain consciousness within two or three days. There’s no need to worry,” the medic assured.

“You’ve worked hard,” Theo replied, nodding in gratitude.

As the medics left, Theo quietly scanned the room. Terepun lay on the bed, his breathing even and his complexion somewhat improved. Relief washed over Theo, but it was tempered by a lingering thought.

“It’ll take some time.”

His curiosity about the Naga’s secret continued to gnaw at him, but guilt quickly buried that feeling.

“I should have kept a closer watch on the Mage Tower.”

Regret churned in Theo’s chest. While it was true that Najariou had disappeared, making it difficult to track his movements, if Theo had stationed eyes on the Mage Tower, he might have caught wind of their schemes earlier.@@@@

“No use crying over it now. I’ll focus on what needs to be done.”

With that resolution, Theo turned to the captured members of the Mage Tower. Their tongues had been cut out, and any means of suicide thoroughly removed. Some glared at him with venomous eyes, while others remained dazed and lifeless. The sight made Theo wrinkle his nose in disgust as he approached Lodbrok.

“Have you managed to get anything out of them?” Theo asked.

Lodbrok, sitting cross-legged in apparent relaxation, shook his head.

“Nothing worthwhile.”

“As expected.”

It was clear that the captives held no useful information. They were little more than tools, good only for execution or to serve as a grim outlet for anger.

“...I’ve grown cold,” Theo thought with a shiver of self-revulsion.

“I’ll delay any decisions until my temper has cooled.”

If Theo, an outsider, could feel such disgust, the Naga—who had suffered firsthand—would undoubtedly be overwhelmed. Yet the irony of the situation struck him: the crimes were so heinous that even execution felt insufficient.

“I’ll be busy for a while,” Lodbrok announced, rising to his feet.

Theo didn’t inquire further, though curiosity pricked at him. He already had an idea of what Lodbrok intended.

“He’s going to purify the area.”

Theo watched Lodbrok’s retreating figure, his thoughts briefly drifting. Several days passed in this manner before word arrived that Terepun had regained enough strength to speak. Theo immediately made his way to Terepun’s quarters.

Opening the door, Theo found Terepun sitting up, his gaze meeting Theo’s.

“Thank you for your boundless kindness,” Terepun said, his tone laced with gratitude and humility.

Though his balance was precarious and his aura irregular, Terepun managed to stand. It was clear he had only recovered the bare minimum of strength.

“Shall we go?” Terepun offered.

Seeing the elder’s determination, Theo couldn’t bring himself to decline. He simply smiled and followed. Their destination was the Life Pond, the same one Theo had seen before. Standing at its edge, both men paused. Even on this second visit, the vastness of the pond was overwhelming.

“Beneath this lies the guardian of the old Naga,” Terepun began. “Do you have the scale of the first chieftain?”

“Yes.”

Theo retrieved the scale from his inventory. It resonated faintly with the energy emanating from the Life Pond, emitting a low hum.

“Is this...?” he began, unable to finish his sentence.

“This is our ancient guardian,” Terepun explained. “Beyond that, we know little.”

Terepun’s tone made it clear there was no need for further questions. Still, Theo couldn’t suppress his amazement.

“How can this be?”

The figure within the sarcophagus was utterly pristine. Silky, well-kept hair framed a face with an almost ethereal glow. The features were flawless: a sharp, sculpted nose, thick eyelashes, and lips that retained a healthy, vibrant hue. The figure was so perfect, it transcended concepts of gender, existing as a marvel of unparalleled beauty.

It was impossible to believe this was the body of someone long deceased. If Theo hadn’t known better, he would have thought the person was merely asleep, ready to awaken at any moment.

“Is there truly no clue as to this person’s identity?” Theo asked.

“None,” Terepun replied. “There is only a myth that the Naga trace our origins to this individual.”

The revelation sent chills down Theo’s spine. A fragment of a memory surfaced in his mind.

“...Chimera.”

The word escaped his lips, accompanied by thoughts of Najariou’s final, desperate outcry.

“If they had acquired this...”

Theo’s realization hit like a thunderclap. The Mage Tower’s obsession with this place made perfect sense now. Najariou, and by extension the entire Mage Tower, had been willing to forsake everything—their power, alliances, and honor—for a chance to claim this being. Even Hilda’s involvement now seemed perfectly rational.

Terepun stiffened at Theo’s utterance. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice uneasy.

“The Mage Tower intended to turn this being into a Chimera,” Theo said grimly. “Or perhaps something even worse.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed as he considered the implications. The Chimera concept might have been just a stepping stone. This figure’s latent potential—whether through necromancy, mana manipulation, or some other form of exploitation—offered infinite possibilities.

“Even after all these years, the mana emanating from this body is overwhelming.”

Theo shivered, barely able to meet the serene face of the deceased. The sheer density of the mana radiating from the body was incomparable, surpassing even Harald’s formidable reserves. It was enough to make Theo’s skin crawl.

“How strong must they have been in their prime? Were they truly a god?”

That thought offered some clarity. After all, even Kyle had ascended to the pantheon.

“...Hah.”

Terepun exhaled deeply, running a hand over his chest as though to calm himself.

“If that had happened... I wouldn’t be able to face our ancestors.”

The Mage Tower’s success would have spelled certain doom for the Naga. This guardian was not only a symbol of their origins but the foundation of their survival.

“It is no longer safe to keep this figure here,” Terepun admitted. “They are our progenitor and symbol, but this location is too exposed. Please, relocate them to a safer place.”

The elder’s request was reasonable. While the Life Pond was vast, now that its secret was out, attackers could infiltrate it with ease. If someone powerful enough to open a portal reached this site, the Naga would be defenseless.

“But where would we move them?”

The issue wasn’t the weight of the stone sarcophagus but the unique nature of the space itself. Keeping this guardian safe seemed an impossible task, even with the Ragnar army stationed permanently. Yet even that idea felt impractical.

“Please,” Terepun implored, bowing deeply. His sincerity was unmistakable.

Theo fell silent, lost in thought. The weight of the decision pressed heavily upon him.