“Mother! What on earth is going on? What’s happening to him?”

Cecilia clung to Kirson, her face ashen with worry.

Theo’s condition was alarming.

His head was thrown back.

Both his pupils and sclera were blackened, as though inlaid with obsidian.

Most disturbingly…

"The demonic energy… it’s directly connected to his veins. I’ve never heard of anything like this. What’s happening?"

Kirson couldn’t understand the situation at all.

The Moonlight White Sword appeared to have become one with Theo.

The sword clung tightly to his palm, and all the demonic energy was being absorbed directly through his wound.

Though he considered forcefully pulling the sword away, he feared that any misstep could lead to serious consequences.

“If anything happens to my son… I will never… never forgive you.”

But what weighed most heavily on Kirson was the accusatory look in Cecilia’s eyes.

It was the same expression he had seen over a decade ago.

He’d told Theo he wouldn’t take responsibility for whatever might happen to him.

Yet, he couldn’t bear to relive the despair of that time.

"This won’t do."

In the end, Kirson clenched his teeth and called for his assistant waiting outside.

“Go to the Security Bureau immediately. Tell them I’ve accepted their previous offer, and they’ll send someone.”

“But, Chairman, that place is…!”

The assistant turned pale instantly.

He knew exactly what Kirson’s words meant.

The Security Bureau.

A place shunned by any member of Ragnar’s household.

It was the agency that housed the intelligence division, *Black Snow*.

Recently, the Security Bureau had requested Kirson’s involvement, claiming they had information related to ancient dragon relics and required his participation for an assessment.

They had hidden their intentions behind a need for consulting on an artifact acquired by Black Snow, but Kirson and the senior members of Bask Workshop knew this was an attempt to pressure him regarding the Moonlight White Sword.

Not just the Moonlight White Sword, either.

Kirson had always been interested in relics, so it was clear they intended to seize any information he possessed on such artifacts.

For this reason, he had repeatedly delayed their consultation request with various excuses…

And now he was about to accept their request?

This was no different than Kirson willingly making himself a servant to save Theo.

“Are you still that attached to Lady Cecilia?” 

The assistant wanted to change Kirson’s mind, but Kirson shot him a glare that practically ordered him to get moving.

Just as the assistant was about to turn and leave, biting his lip—

*Fwoosh!*

Suddenly, black flames erupted from Theo’s wound, engulfing his entire body.

“Aaah! My son!”

“Cecilia, don’t go near him!”

“But! But my son…! Theo! Theo!”

Cecilia’s distress had reached a peak, and she could no longer think clearly.

Kirson held her back as she struggled.

"What…?"

The flames swirled violently, then sank into Theo’s left chest, disappearing as though they had never been.

“…”

“…”

A profound silence settled over the room.

Theo appeared completely unharmed, without so much as a burn mark on his skin.

And then—

*Flash!*

Theo’s eyes opened again, a glint flashing over his pupils before vanishing.

“The… Theo?”

Cecilia had forgotten her usual formal tone, staring at him in awe.

Theo slowly raised himself, flexing his stiff neck as he spoke.

“I’m alright, Mother. There’s no need to worry.”

Finally, Cecilia released the tension she’d held, collapsing to the floor as tears began to flow.

* * *

"Lucky. I caught him just after he woke from the seal, while he was still disoriented."

If the beast had hesitated instead of lunging at Theo immediately, Theo might have struggled to capture him.

"And I have no desire to ever do that again."

Experiencing the final moments of his previous life once more had been truly horrific.

[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Tutorial Quest #13 by hunting a Griffin.]

[Rating: A+]

[As a reward, you have obtained ownership of the Moonlight White Sword.]

[Additionally, due to your high rating, you have absorbed the demonic power of the Moonlight White Sword, greatly increasing your mana reserves.]

The Black Dragon’s prized Moonlight White Sword and enhanced mana reserves?

He wondered how much they had increased.

Theo quickly opened his status window.

+

Theo Ragnar (15 years old / Male)

· Level: 16

· Stats (▼)

Strength: 96 Agility: 27

Health: 21 Mana: 228

Intelligence: 20 Luck: -6

· Skills (▼)

- Lesser Drake Fear

· [Restricted Access]

+

"Two hundred and twenty-eight? H-Hah!”

Theo let out a gasp of amazement.

His mana reserves had increased by 30 points from before.

But that wasn’t all.

[Your mana coefficient has surpassed 200.]

[An hidden ability has been unlocked, allowing your mana to now acquire a spiritual quality.]

+

[Spirituality]

· Type: Special Ability

· Effect: Transformation of physical abilities. Mana recovery rate increases by 1.5 per second.

+

*Thud, thud*

His chest tightened as though his dragon’s heart was being squeezed, but then, bit by bit, a change began.

The increased mana swirled vigorously, coursing throughout his body.

For the first time, his capillaries expanded fully to accommodate it.

It was as if the mana had a mind of its own, finding its way naturally, unlike before, when Theo had to focus meticulously on each movement.

Enhanced efficiency and recovery.

With this, Theo now possessed talents comparable to a prodigious mage.

"So this is what they meant by acquiring spirituality."

With his mana alone, he now had the power to dominate an entire city, perhaps rivaling the level of a *Dragonscale Swordsman* in Ragnar.

Considering that Dragonscale Swordsmen were called the “claws and fangs of the dragon,” this was a significant leap in strength.

Theo gripped the Moonlight White Sword firmly again.

It resonated with his mana.

He felt as if his dragon’s heart and the sword were directly connected.

He imagined that, if he swung the blade, his dragon’s heart would immediately respond, squeezing out every drop of mana it could muster.

*Vmmm, vmmm*

"So it was a Griffin, wasn’t it?"

An ancient dragon species that had been extinct for ages and now survived only in legend.

A creature that fed on moonlight, also known as the “Beast of the Moon.” Who would have thought that monster was a Griffin?

"First the Lesser Drake… both were dragon species. Could this really be a coincidence?"

Among the many legends about dragons, one spoke of this:

- Dragons love all things that sparkle, so they fill their nests with the treasures of the world.

In other words, they were guardians of treasures.

The dungeon and the Moonlight White Sword.

Both could be considered “treasures” due to the incredible benefits they offered.

And both were protected by dragon species.

Theo wanted to see if the other “treasures” were the same.

"The relic of the ancient dragon… I should see if there are others."

Just then—

*Vmmmm!*

The Moonlight White Sword vibrated violently.

It was as if it wanted to break free from Theo’s grasp.

“So you’re resisting.”

Kirson, who had come close by, observed with gleaming eyes.

His pipe was back in his mouth, his curiosity about the Moonlight White Sword evident.

“Does that mean it hasn’t accepted me as its master?”

“Well, you could say that, but it’s a bit different.”

“In what way?”

“The Moonlight White Sword has been sealed here for an incredibly long time. Even before it came into my possession, it was in a similar state, likely for centuries.”

*Puff, puff*

Kirson chuckled, blowing out thick clouds of smoke.

“So it’s impatient. After finally being released into the world, it wants to vent its pent-up frustration.”

“Oh.”

“Try swinging it with all your might over there.”

Kirson pointed to a wall in the office with his pipe.

The wall was marked with several scars from previous sword strikes.

Theo’s eyes widened.

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

“Heh! Bask Workshop didn’t earn its reputation as Ragnar’s best workshop for nothing. This building is designed to withstand considerable impact. No matter how sharp the Moonlight White Sword is, without mana, it’s just a sword.”

A blatant taunt.

“I’d like to show him up.”

Theo felt a sudden urge to surprise Kirson.

He remembered how his mother had been shunned by other noblewomen due to her lack of powerful support.

“This would be good.”

So, Theo rose without a word and took his stance.

He sensed Kirson’s eager gaze from behind.

"Single Strike."

He lowered the Moonlight White Sword’s tip.

*Thud, thud, thud, thud!*

Simultaneously, his dragon heart began to pound ferociously.

The manifestation of spirituality.

His mana, now clearer and more potent, surged through his veins.

The heartbeat was so loud that even Theo could hear it clearly.

The problem was, it was loud enough for Kirson’s sharp ears to pick up as well.

“Wait…! Hold on!”

Kirson, now aware of Theo’s extraordinary aura, shouted something, but—

*Swoosh!*

It was too late.

The sword mark that started on the floor slashed up the wall and all the way through the roof in an instant.

It looked as if a dragon had fiercely clawed

 through.

The impact was so intense that Theo was thrown back against the opposite wall.

“Guh!”

When he regained his senses and opened his eyes,

Dust was billowing as the ceiling and walls crumbled along the sword’s path.

*Crash*

*Crumble, crumble*

“…”

“…”

Cecilia’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s,

*Clatter, roll*

and Kirson, oblivious to the pipe that had slipped from his hand, stood with his mouth agape.

“My workshop… my money… MY MONEY! Nooooo!”

Kirson screamed, clutching his head in agony.

The Moonlight White Sword hummed, almost as if it were laughing at her.

*Vmmm, vmmm*

This time, however, there was a distinct feeling of satisfaction in its tone.

“I’d better save this for emergencies.”

Theo brushed the falling wall dust off himself, wincing as he stood.

His left chest ached terribly.

While the pain from his dragon heart compressing his muscles was partly to blame, the real reason was that the Moonlight White Sword had consumed far more mana than he’d anticipated.

He had exhausted his substantial mana reserves.

Theo barely managed to stave off a wave of dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him.

*Vmmm!*

The Moonlight White Sword vibrated aggressively, as if flaunting itself.

“…”

Was it just his imagination, or did the Griffin seem to be tilting its head with a smug expression?

He let out a faint laugh.

“...Is it really true you haven’t formally learned mana techniques?”

Kirson trudged over, looking as if he’d aged ten years in that moment.

Theo maintained an innocent silence.

“But the awakening ceremony is only five days away.”

“So, you did all this with mere sword intent…!”

Suddenly, Kirson’s hand darted toward him.

Theo instinctively pulled his arm back, but—

“He’s fast…!”

Before he could react, Kirson had seized his wrist.

"You've mastered swordsmanship, at least at the level of a Dragonscale Swordsman…!"

Kirson was stunned, never realizing the head of the Bask Workshop knew swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, Kirson furrowed his brow, checking Theo’s pulse.

He couldn’t detect any mana from Theo.

“Hah! So you really did all this with just sword intent?”

Theo merely smiled.

Part of it was that he’d depleted all his mana in that one strike, but also, the very idea of storing mana in his heart was inconceivable by this era’s standards.

*Click!*

Kirson clicked his tongue in frustration, reluctant to hand over such an exceptional sword.

Still, he was too proud to go back on his word.

"Or maybe there’s another way to look at it. If a sword with such intense intent takes such a toll just to wield, yet he managed without any mana… isn’t that…?"

One word crossed Kirson’s mind.

Genius.

A person with talent bestowed by the heavens.

"Is that my grandson?"

Kirson, inspired by a sudden thought, grinned as he put his pipe back in his mouth.

A boy like this would shine no matter what.

Especially at the upcoming awakening ceremony, where Ragnar’s elite swordsmen and warriors would be present.

And with the Bask Workshop’s emblem emblazoned on his sword?

"Kahaha! I can practically see the money rolling in!"

Kirson’s eyes sparkled at the thought of his newfound goldmine.

Collapsed ceiling and walls?

Those could be rebuilt, but this grand marketing opportunity was once-in-a-lifetime.

Theo instinctively took a step back from Kirson’s predatory gaze.

“It won’t be easy wielding such a cursed sword at the awakening ceremony… You did mention needing a new blade, right?”

He froze at her question.

“Could it be?”

Theo’s eyes widened slightly.

A sword crafted personally by Grandmaster Kirson.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any swordsman.

“I’ll make you the best I can. But in return, you must claim the top position.”

A grin spread across Kirson’s face, his mouth practically watering.

*Smack!*