Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 138

[A sudden event has occurred, opening an instance dungeon.]

[A quest has been issued.]

[Sudden Quest]

You have discovered "Grim Reaper," an artifact of the Ancient Dragon. Win a game of hide-and-seek against the artifact's guardian, Magara.

Difficulty: AReward: Ownership of the "Grim Reaper"Failure: Ownership will be revoked

Theo suddenly felt the ground beneath him give way, as though he had stepped into quicksand.

It wasn’t just quicksand. It was a swamp, filled with a murky mixture of mud and river water.

“This isn’t ideal,” Theo muttered, barely catching the gist of the quest as he began sinking. Reacting quickly, he gathered mana into his feet.

BOOM!

The swamp exploded outward as Theo launched himself into the air, landing atop a nearby dry, withered tree.

Where he had stood just moments earlier, something monstrous had emerged: the creature had the body of a shark, a snake-like tail, and a crocodile’s elongated jaw. It clicked its teeth, annoyed it had missed its prey.

「You’re quicker than you look.」

Theo rested his sword on his shoulder, balancing on the branch.

“So, you’re the guardian of this place?”

「Something like that.」

“Judging by the quest, all I need to do is capture you. Why reveal yourself so easily?”

If the task was to find Magara, the creature’s sudden appearance felt contradictory. A game of hide-and-seek usually involved the guardian staying hidden.

But Magara wasn’t like the other guardians Theo had encountered.

「Why would you assume I’m going to play by the rules?」

Theo blinked in surprise, unprepared for the defiant response.

「These so-called quests are just coercive demands imposed by the Ancient Dragon. They don’t reflect our will or desires.」

Theo’s eyes narrowed. This was unlike any interaction he’d had with other artifacts or their guardians.

Suddenly, his Drake Blade, Moonlight Sword, Desert Ring, and Iceflower Butterfly began to tremble violently.

FWOOSH!

His earring glowed with a cold light as the Fairy Dragon materialized beside him.

「Nonsense!」

The Fairy Dragon glared at Magara, its small frame radiating rage.

「Lord Fafnir is our creator! His will is our sacred mission and duty! How dare you deny that?」

「Such blind obedience suits those like you, who lack free will.」

Magara’s response was mocking, and Theo could sense the disdain dripping from every word.

「You insolent wretch!」

「Spare me your dogma. Follow the human if you wish, but don’t impose your beliefs on me.」

Magara’s vertical pupils dilated as it declared:

「My true master is Lady Lezé!」

Theo observed the exchange silently, piecing together the implications.

So, Lezé has completely won Magara over.

This wasn’t just about the artifact’s power; it was clear Magara and Lezé shared a bond deeper than that of master and tool.

In his past life, Lezé had lost the successor race, yet she had kept the Grim Reaper by her side until her final moments. The scythe had been her unwavering companion, even when her faction deserted her.

For Theo, however, reclaiming the artifact’s power was non-negotiable. The Ancient Dragon’s legacy depended on him collecting these artifacts.

The Fairy Dragon growled, interrupting Theo’s thoughts.

「You’d defy the creator’s will for such a worthless goal? Lezé isn’t even a chosen successor!」

「But she is Ragnar, descended from dragons. Isn’t that enough?」

「You fool!」

Magara’s declaration seemed to seal its intent.

[Magara has expressed hostile intent toward you. It intends to hunt you down and transfer your status as a successor to someone else.]

Evaluation: SReward: Ownership of the Grim Reaper

“I’m flattered,” Theo replied curtly.

“Say, have you ever considered working under me?”

“No.”

“You didn’t even let me finish,” she said, her tone exasperated.

“You’re asking me to join you, aren’t you? My answer is no.”

“You’re awfully resolute. Did you eat some kind of unyielding squash for breakfast?”

Lezé glanced between Theo and Wellington.

“You two are exactly the same,” she muttered, the hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

However, she didn’t press the matter further. There was no disappointment in her gaze, as though she hadn’t expected him to agree in the first place.

Theo isn’t the kind of person to serve under anyone.

Instead, Lezé turned her attention to Kassandra.

The girl flinched at the approaching presence and pressed herself closer to Theo’s back.

“So, you’re the child Troivan has been so desperate to find—the prophet,” Lezé said softly.

Lowering herself to Kassandra’s eye level, Lezé studied her closely.

Theo’s eyes widened. Her target wasn’t me—it was Kassandra all along.

“I want to ask you something,” Lezé said gently. “Could you answer me?”

Theo’s expression hardened.

Lezé was the one who orchestrated Kassandra’s arrival here!

Inside the Tulip Guild, Theo and his group escorted Kassandra to safety.

Lezé, meanwhile, remained outside, crouched in thought.

One of her Reaper Division members approached cautiously.

“My lady?”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve obtained the answer you sought. Is something troubling you?”

“Troubling? Not at all.”

The question Lezé had asked Kassandra echoed in her mind:

“Can I... become a king?”

The entire operation—learning about a child with prophetic abilities, dispatching Theo’s group to rescue her, and even testing Theo’s skills—had all been part of Lezé’s plan.

If Theo had failed, Deungryong and the Reaper Division were prepared to step in.

After all, it was her agents who had been tracking both Arct and the Blue Demons.

Fortunately, the rescue had succeeded, and Lezé had finally been able to ask the question that had haunted her for so long.

The throne.

Could she, after enduring endless opposition and scrutiny, finally ascend to the seat her father occupied?

Could she become king?

But the answer Kassandra had given...

Lezé couldn’t laugh or cry.

No reaction.

Her cherished weapon, Grim Reaper, which had always resonated with her emotions, was now eerily silent.

In moments of both joy and sorrow, Grim Reaper had been a constant companion, spiritually connected to her.

Now, it felt lifeless—as if it had died.

At that moment, Lezé realized something painful.

The friend she had hoped would stand by her when she ascended to the throne was no longer with her.

The companion she had dreamed of sharing the throne with... was gone.