+ **[Tutorial Quest #8]**

Free yourself from the title of "The Wasted Blood of Ragnar."

- Difficulty: E
- Reward: Beginner’s Anklet
- Penalty upon failure: ■■

---

‘Player, quest, beginner…?’

For the first time, all the information was displayed without any static or noise.

Because of the way it resembled a “game,” none of these terms felt unfamiliar.

The penalty section was still obscured, but this was enough to give Theo a sense of clarity.

“Now that I think about it…”

Theo glanced back and forth between his status and message windows, his eyes lighting up.

“When I received Julius and Evelyn’s recognition, didn’t my [Luck] increase?”

A promising thought crossed his mind.

Though he wasn’t sure it was truly “good,” the potential benefits were hard to ignore.

‘If I pull this off, the impact will be significant. I could aim for three birds with one stone—or maybe even four.’

*Ring.*

When he lightly shook the bell on the table, the butler waiting outside promptly entered.

“Please gather all available servants in the Rose Palace and have them meet me.”

---

The next day, exactly at 6:00 a.m., Theo made his way to the Fourth Training Hall, as usual.

The only difference was the massive zweihander strapped to his back, towering over his head.

With each step, the sword dragged along the ground, carving a deep line that left a striking impression.

- Hey, look over there.

- Is that… him?

- Yeah. That’s “him” from the Rose Palace.

- He looks so small in person.

- I heard he hasn’t even mastered the *Sky Blade* yet. So how did he take down a 2-star swordsman?

- That’s what we’re here to find out, isn’t it?

The scene at the Fourth Training Hall was also vastly different than usual.

Many onlookers had gathered in groups, casually stretching, while observing Theo’s every move.

All had come after hearing the rumors about him, eager to verify the story for themselves.

- That “brat from the Rose Palace” not only defeated a 2-star swordsman but also received an invitation from the White Dragon Guard’s captain.

- And apparently, he was arrogant enough to refuse the offer!

Naturally, most who heard this scoffed, believing it impossible.

Yet.

What if, by some incredible chance, it was true?

- He must not get away with it!

This was the conclusion of the gathered swordsmen.

All Ragnar swordsmen held Julius in high regard.

Turning down his offer was akin to spitting in his face—a completely unforgivable offense.

So, they planned to observe Theo’s training closely to determine if there was any truth to the claims.

*Clink.*

*Shhhk.*

Suddenly, Theo pulled his zweihander from his back and drew a long line on the ground.

Right between himself and the onlookers.

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

The bewildered observers tilted their heads in confusion.

Theo gestured for them to step inside the line.

“You all came here to see me, didn’t you? Instead of facing each of you individually, why don’t you all come at once?”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you coming?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

A cold smirk tugged at Theo’s lips as he looked at their hesitation.

‘Looks like the rumors spread perfectly.’

In truth, Theo himself had been the one to start the rumors the previous night.

He’d instructed the servants to spread the word about the incident at the Fourth Training Hall.

Unlike most swordsmen who looked down on servants, Theo had a good relationship with them.

And, given a little incentive, the servants had eagerly spread the rumors.

‘I stand to gain four things from this.’

First, he could increase his [Luck] by drawing attention to himself.

Second, he could rack up experience points through continuous duels to level up.

Third, he could hone the sword techniques he’d recently begun learning.

And lastly—

‘Presence.’

Theo didn’t want to remain an obscure figure as he had in past lives.

He wanted his name to resound and to claim the clan’s power for himself.

To do that, the name “Theo” needed to be burned into people’s minds.

Like a blazing flame.

And these onlookers before him…

Would make excellent kindling for that fire.

Already, the faces of the gathered swordsmen, stung by Theo’s mockery, were flushed red.

Though Theo was a direct descendant of Ragnar, his actions today were clearly meant to provoke.

But as angry as they were, none of the onlookers dared to cross the line.

- If we end up ganging up on him, we’ll ruin our own reputations.

- Damn it, we can’t just let him insult us, either.

The thought of an adult swordsman rushing to beat down a boy who’d barely held a sword for a few days would be seen as nothing but cowardly.

Still, it was unacceptable to ignore Theo’s taunt and remain passive.

Eventually, one of the swordsmen took a step forward.

“My name is Sybil Dray of the Southern Guard.”

A Guard Swordsman—a title only awarded to those at 2-star or higher.

“I’d like to ask one thing, young master. By acting like this, are you admitting the rumors are true?”

“What happened between me and the Captain of the White Dragon Guard is none of your business, is it?”

“Then why provoke us like this?”

“I’m preparing for the Blooming Ceremony and have no time to waste. Wouldn’t it be easier to deal with all potential obstacles now, rather than later?”

Sybil’s face reddened—not from anger, but from embarrassment.

Theo’s words were as good as saying:

- No matter what I say, you’ll refuse to believe me. You’ll keep lingering around the training hall, causing a commotion.

- But I don’t want my training to be disrupted. So, I’ll clear you out in one fell swoop. What’s wrong with that?

Sybil hadn’t intended to leave until he’d satisfied his curiosity, and Theo’s words left him speechless.

“So, are you coming in or not?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Yet they hesitated, realizing that taking the bait would make them look even worse.

‘Is he really manipulating us like this just to gain an advantage…?’

Sybil thought back to the rumors about Theo, finding this unexpected boldness perplexing.

“If you’re not coming…”

Theo raised his zweihander, preparing himself.

“Then I’ll come to you.”

*Shudder!*

A chill shot down Sybil’s spine.

*Boom!*

*Whoosh!*

In an instant, Theo charged across the line, aiming straight for Sybil.

Sybil hastily drew the sword at his waist.

*Clang!*

* * *

By the time Evelyn pulled out the small, dusty box she’d hidden deep beneath her bed, she’d already hesitated multiple times.

And as she carefully dusted off the box’s lid, she kept questioning herself.

‘Is this really the right choice?’

‘Am I just falling into the Captain’s schemes again?’

‘What if those old traumas resurface?’

‘What if I can no longer perform like before?’

‘Even if my missing arm is the left one, the balance difference is significant. Can I still fight?’

‘Is this okay?’

‘Really?’

‘I… I…!’

An inner voice echoed with a mix of fear, anxiety, anger, and sorrow—so many emotions tightly packed within her.

But.

*Click.*

The soft sound of the box opening seemed to dispel the turmoil, filling the silence with a new resolve.

‘It’s beautiful.’

The rapier within was simply exquisite.

Its polished blade bore no decorations, but its clean elegance struck Evelyn deeply.

This was the very sword she’d once wielded with wild abandon.

She’d done terrible things with this sword.

Lost in her thoughts, Evelyn slowly reached out, grasping the rapier’s handle.

Her hand trembled.

The sword trembled, too.

And her heart… also trembled.

- I accepted your resignation because you could no longer lead, not because you couldn’t hold a sword.

- So maybe now’s a good time to reconsider. Isn’t it time to stand up again?

The Captain’s words echoed in her mind.

- Perhaps that young man’s fighting spirit might rekindle the fire within you.

Clenching the rapier tightly, Evelyn slowly rose from her seat.

‘By now, he should be at the training hall.’

Could Theo really reignite the flame within her?

Could he make her heart beat again?

She had to find out for herself.

* * *

Sybil snapped back to reality, his wrist throbbing with pain as though it would snap.

‘He’s serious! He’s genuinely determined!’

It’s said that a skilled swordsman can sense an opponent’s intent just from a clash of blades.

And Sybil could sense it clearly now.

Theo’s fighting spirit was fierce, as if he were truly battling on a war-torn field.

*How did a boy who has never even left Winterer…?*

*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*

After trading several rapid blows, Sybil retreated, putting more distance between them.

*Whine, whine…*

Sybil’s sword resonated with the stress, the blade chipped in several places.

Despite the zweihander’s weight, it would be impossible to wield it with such precision without skill.

Theo had earned the right to be called a “swordsman.”

‘So that’s why Lord Julius tried to recruit him.’

Sybil suddenly

 felt ashamed.

It had been ten years since he became a Guard Swordsman.

And yet, he was still stuck at the 2-star level, a fact that had gnawed at him over time.

Once, he’d dreamed of donning the brilliant white armor, standing at the frontlines, bringing honor to the Ragnar name…

But the gap between his dream and reality had grown, a bitterness that only those who’d experienced it could understand.

While his peers rose to higher ranks, shining in their positions, he remained hidden, overshadowed, realizing his limits.

The disappointment of realizing he might never reach his goals had grown into a resentment, leading him to find satisfaction in belittling those he deemed inferior.

Theo had been one of those people.

- Theo Ragnar? That pale prince from the Rose Palace? There’s no comparison. Unlike someone with neither drive nor talent, I…

But last night, he’d heard the rumor.

- What? The Captain acknowledged him? That’s impossible! Why him? There must be a mistake.

Perhaps Sybil didn’t want to believe that someone he’d dismissed as worthless was now being recognized by the figure he idolized.

Or perhaps he hated the idea of falling behind.

So he’d come to see Theo with some of his friends.

Most of them were people like Sybil.

People whose dreams had once soared but had been grounded by their limitations.

They wanted to prove that Lord Julius had made a “mistake.”

After all, even the most flawless person could err.

And they wanted to punish the arrogant boy who’d had the audacity to reject Julius’s offer.

But…

‘It’s not like that.’

The resolve Theo displayed wasn’t something you’d expect from a mere “lucky heir of Ragnar’s blood.”

This was a fighting spirit born from countless battles fought in secret.

A determination cultivated through countless swings of his sword, unnoticed by all.

It was the iron will of someone who’d clawed his way forward, refusing to be trampled.

The very willpower Sybil himself had never possessed.

“…”

At that moment, Sybil wanted to sink into a hole and disappear.

But he knew retreating would only be running away from his mistakes.

*Swish!*

Just as Theo prepared to close the distance again, Sybil quickly lowered his sword, covering his right hand with his left, and bowed his head low.

It was the swordsmen’s gesture of respect.

“What are you doing?” Theo asked.

“I wish to apologize for my error and disrespect.”

Theo stopped, his gaze narrowing.

“I looked down on your skills and dared to disrupt your training. While I know it’s hard to forgive, I wanted to apologize for my rudeness.”