Theo was momentarily at a loss for words, staring blankly at the man before him.

Impressive.

That was the only thought occupying his mind.

The gaps he’d seen countless times while fighting Rendon were nowhere to be found in Julius.

Every movement of his hands, each swing of the sword, the very moment he channeled his aura—all of it remained vividly etched in Theo’s mind.

- I want to be like that.

Pushing the sudden thought aside, Theo realized his own lapse and hastily bowed.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I wasn't hurt. I don’t know how I can repay your kindness…”

“No need for thanks. Aren't we all family here in Ragnar? It’s only natural to help when family is in danger.”

Family.

That word struck deep within Theo’s heart.

“Ahem! Well, if you’re insistent on repaying the favor… perhaps joining the White Dragon Guard after your Blooming Ceremony would be a fine way… ahem!”

Julius cleared his throat as he spoke, but his gaze was intense, contrasting with his casual tone.

*Gulp!*

Theo unconsciously stepped back, startled by the look in his eyes.

‘Why… why is he looking at me like that?’

It wasn’t as if he intended to harm Theo, considering he’d just saved him.

Then, a thought struck Theo—*Observation.*

He was also curious about what information he might uncover on this giant of a man.

*Observation.*

[Observing ‘Julius Ragnar.’]

---

**Julius Ragnar (41 years old / Male)**

- Title: The Dark Dragon
- Talents: Leadership, Swordsmanship Genius, Passion for Talent Collection, Unyielding Love
- Status: Strong desire to recruit… no, to acquire ‘Theo Ragnar.’

---

*Me?*

Having lived a life where he was often overlooked, this was the first time Theo had experienced attention from someone so esteemed.

And the only thought that came to mind was, *Why?*

In Julius’s eyes, he was still just a novice, barely scratching the surface of swordsmanship.

“It seems you were surprised by the Captain’s sudden appearance, but don’t worry. Our captain isn’t as scary as he seems,” came a voice behind him as a hand patted his shoulder, snapping Theo out of his daze.

“Evelyn.”

“That duel just now was impressive. However, it doesn’t seem like the best place for a chat… shall we move somewhere more suitable? The Captain has things he’d like to discuss with you as well.”

---

[You have earned the recognition of ‘Julius Ragnar.’]

[Luck has increased by 2 points.]

[You have earned the recognition of ‘Evelyn Nereville.’]

[Luck has increased by 1 point.]

---

Evelyn gave a playful wink, making it clear that Julius’s interest was neither a joke nor a lie.

Theo clenched his fists without realizing it.

He didn’t know how the Captain of the White Dragon Guard had come to see his duel.

But perhaps… perhaps his long-held desire to rise higher could come true sooner than he’d expected.

* * *

The news of Theo and Rendon’s match spread swiftly throughout the clan.

- They say that the brat from the Rose Palace struck down his own master!

The Rose Palace was the residence of the clan’s concubines, and “the brat from the Rose Palace” was often used as a derisive term among the clan’s swordsmen when referring to Theo.

But now, they said that this “brat” had defeated his swordsmanship instructor in a formal match.

Naturally, this sparked curiosity.

Some were skeptical of the claim.

- Isn’t that a bit hard to believe?

- Why?

- The Blooming Ceremony is just a few months away, so maybe the brat from the Rose Palace is just making a fuss?

- Actually, it seems legit.

- Oh? Why?

- They say the Captain of the White Dragon Guard was present.

- What? Seriously?

With the addition of Julius’s presence, the story gained credibility.

Some shook their heads, questioning how a student could harm his instructor, while others wondered how incompetent a master must be to lose to his pupil.

But that was the extent of the interest and gossip.

- So? What difference does it make?

No one had any real expectations for Theo in the first place.

And since Rendon wasn’t well-regarded either, the rumors died down as quickly as they had spread.

But no one realized that, little by little, whispers about Theo were beginning to circulate more frequently, unnoticed.

* * *

That evening.

“What do you think?”

“Of what, sir?”

“About the conversation we had today.”

Julius began speaking about Theo as he entered the Fourth Training Hall’s management room with Evelyn.

Evelyn cast a sharp look at Julius as he casually selected the most expensive bottle of wine from her wine rack without asking.

“My impression is that he’s quite thoughtful. But… are you actually going to drink that?”

“Wouldn’t you say? Seems the rumors about him were entirely unfounded.”

*Pop!*

Julius casually popped the cork, smirking.

“Aah!”

Evelyn’s scream went unnoticed by him.

*Interesting encounter.*

As he poured the red wine into his glass, he recalled their earlier meeting.

- I appreciate the offer, but I’m not looking to be tied down just yet.

When they’d met separately to discuss his recruitment, Theo had given his response right away.

Both Julius and Evelyn had been caught off guard.

The White Dragon Guard was the pinnacle of aspiration for anyone within the Ragnar clan.

It was far more than a simple cavalry.

*Dragoons.*

Dressed in dazzling white armor, mounted on specially trained wyverns, they protected the northern skies.

When they took to the air, even the monsters of the Demon Sea held their breath.

As a unique battalion exclusive to Ragnar, they were highly regarded even outside the clan.

Julius had expected Theo to join without hesitation.

Yet, he’d declined without even listening to the conditions.

“Talent, character, humility. Truly, such a person is a rare find. How can I possibly bring him on board?”

“Aah… my precious wine…”

“I need to secure him before others start to covet him. It’s strange—being turned down for the first time in my life has left me a bit dazed.”

“Um, Captain? The glass is overflowing…”

“Not to brag, but… I’ve never once been rejected by anyone in my life—male or female. And now that it’s happened, it only makes me want him even more. Hmph!”

“Could you please listen to me?”

“Ah, perhaps he’s simply being cautious, not wanting to attract attention?”

The wine stopped just short of overflowing.

Evelyn’s legs gave out as she slumped to the floor.

The expensive wine she’d saved half a year’s salary for had been wasted right before her eyes.

Not even facing an 8-star swordsman alone had felt this nerve-wracking.

Regardless, Julius remained lost in his own world.

“If that’s the case, then I understand. Even a dormant dragon stretching its wings for the first time wouldn’t want to be under constant scrutiny. Plus, he probably doesn’t want the White Dragon Guard to suffer suspicion because of him.”

Julius’s eyes lit up with a realization.

“Yes, that’s likely it. He’s even considering the reputation of our division. Such consideration!”

In Julius’s mind, Theo’s image had now ascended to the level of a saintly figure.

“Then, to match his thoughtfulness, it’s only fair that we offer him something in return… hmm?”

Julius turned his gaze toward Evelyn, who was still staring at the wine glass with a devastated expression.

She unconsciously flinched, recognizing that look in his eyes.

From past experience, she knew she’d soon be roped into something bizarre whenever he had that look.

She was about to refuse outright, but—

“Evelyn, have you considered becoming a swordsmanship instructor?”

*Gasp.*

Evelyn instinctively grabbed her empty left sleeve with her right hand.

“I…!”

“Don’t say it would be difficult because you’re missing an arm. You may have lost an arm, but you’re not a cripple when it comes to swordsmanship.”

“…”

A cripple.

Julius used such a harsh word because Evelyn often called herself that when feeling self-pity after her retirement.

“I accepted your resignation because you could no longer hold the reins, not because you couldn’t hold a sword. So perhaps now is a good time to consider wielding a sword again. Don’t you think it’s time to stand up once more?”

Evelyn’s eyes wavered as she looked at her reflection in the wine-filled glass.

* * *

“My beloved son, Theo! I always knew you were destined for greatness!” exclaimed Cecilia, her arms open wide to welcome him as soon as he returned to the palace.

“And to think the Captain of the White Dragon Guard was present! Could he have taken a liking to you…”

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

Cecilia stopped mid-hug and awkwardly laughed.

“Oh… of course. After all, you’ve been through such a dreadful ordeal. Rest well, dear. I’ll visit again tomorrow.”

As Cecilia departed, Theo let out a quiet sigh.

A sigh tinged with a mix of emotions.

He then glanced at the maids and servants who had been watching him out of the corner of their eyes.

The moment their gazes met, they hurriedly bowed their heads.

“There’s no need to be so tense. And you should get used to this sort of thing happening more often. Don’t over react.”

Theo paid little attention to their responses as he returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed.

“It’s tough. Really tough. I’m not even sure I’m doing the right thing.”

Rejecting Julius’s offer.

Anyone else might see it as presumptuous, a decision open to criticism.

Yet despite his words, Theo didn’t regret his choice.

He had faith.

Faith that he could reach even greater heights than this.

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

‘Even if I were to join the White Dragon Guard, it’s best to raise my worth so high that other offers would come from elsewhere too.’

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

‘The Blooming Ceremony will be my stage for that.’

This year’s Blooming Ceremony was expected to be an “unprecedented” event, with countless prodigies and promising candidates.

If he wanted to stand out with a dominant performance, he couldn’t afford to be complacent.

‘Which means I need to close the gap with the others in the time I have left.’

Theo turned his head to the side, spotting a full-length mirror leaning against the wall.

In the mirror, he saw himself lying on the bed.

*Observation.*

[Observing ‘Theo Ragnar.’]

---

**Theo Ragnar (15 years old / Male)**

- Title: The Wasted Blood of Ragnar, The Brat from the Rose Palace
- Talents: Ragnar, Player, Observation, [Unavailable], [Unavailable], [Unavailable], [Unavailable].
- Status: Strong yearning for the Blooming Ceremony.

---

Theo’s eyes lit up.

If <Observation> worked on anything he could see, then maybe he could observe himself through the reflection in the mirror. And fortunately, it worked.

‘All abilities are grouped under [Talents]. So if I keep completing missions with high marks, does that mean I can unlock four more of these?’

He was already curious about what else might be included in those slots.

Maybe even a power that could help him find the “rewards” he’d received so far.

‘But how do I view my stat numbers?’

Since there had been messages about stat increases, there had to be some kind of status screen to display his abilities.

As Theo fiddled with the message box, he discovered that he could flip it over.

His anticipation grew.

Just how strong was he now?

---

[Displaying additional information.]

---

**Theo Ragnar (15 years old / Male)**

- Level: 1

- Stats (▼)

  Strength: 13 Agility: 14

  Endurance: 12 Mana: 190

  Intelligence: 11 Luck: -50

- [Unavailable]

- [Unavailable]

---

“…What’s with the negative stat?”

Theo’s excitement quickly deflated.

The [Mana] stat he’d brought from his previous life was high.

But the unexpected state of his [Luck] left him dizzy.

In absolute terms, it was even lower than the [Mana] value he’d gained from the aura heart.

Didn’t he gain about 4 points in [Luck] while fighting Randon?

‘Is this the best it’s been, even after going up a bit? Ha… No wonder I’ve always been unlucky, in both this life and the last.’

Theo instinctively pressed a hand to his forehead.

‘Am I cursed or something?’

He still wasn’t sure exactly what effect [Luck] had.

But based on his observations, it seemed to play a significant role in unexpected events and social standing.

Granted, it’s hard to quantify life’s misfortunes with a single number.

Still, Theo was grateful simply for the chance to mitigate his misfortune.

‘The problem is figuring out how to raise [Luck] to zero.’

Since his [Luck] had increased under various conditions while fighting Rendon, he realized he’d need more samples to draw conclusions.

As Theo’s thoughts deepened—

*Ding!*

[A new Quest has arrived.]