Episode 139
“Siegfried?”
The name sounded eerily similar to Sieg’s own.
Eunja continued her explanation.
“After being exiled from his family, Terrakan wandered the continent as a free knight until he met Claudia Lubern. It’s said she used the power of the Holy Grail to make him the ‘Immortal Knight.’”
“The Immortal Knight, huh…”
Sieg couldn’t help but think of his own class, the Immortal.
“Could it be that Terrakan Draker was also of the Immortal class?”
The thought crossed his mind, but there was no way to confirm it.
Eunja flipped through the pages of the book, continuing her tale.
“The Draker family was renowned for producing exceptional swordsmen. But during the Liberation War, they were more concerned with hiding to protect their lineage.”
“So, the Drakers didn’t inherit the blood of dragon slayers but instead ran away like cowards.”
“Isn’t that how legends often go? Regardless, it allowed the family to survive to this day.”
Sieg began to understand why the Draker family had so thoroughly censored the legend of the dragon slayers and hidden their past.
Siegfried Draker, the hero of the Liberation War, was actually the black sheep of the family, which had not participated in the war at all.
Even for descendants of swordmasters, this was a disgraceful truth that couldn’t be undone.
In the end, they must have felt compelled to reintegrate Terrakan Draker into the family to cover up their shameful past.
The lineage of dragon slayers was crucial in establishing the Draker family’s legitimacy.
If that legitimacy were to be questioned, the family’s standing would be drastically different.
“The true lineage of dragon slayers continued as a healer class. How ironic.”
Sieg, ironically a healer, had been cast out of the Draker family for failing to awaken his aura in his past life, enduring countless humiliations.
Reflecting on the past, Sieg understood why Arthur Draker had neglected him.
Perhaps they feared that if they accepted him, the family’s hidden secrets might leak out.
If that happened, the entire foundation of the Draker family could be shaken, so they chose to abandon Sieg, leaving him in the dark.
Sieg clenched his teeth.
“In the end, they discarded me to protect their own interests and power.”
His fists tightened with anger.
The hypocrisy and cowardice of the Draker family filled him with rage.
He vowed once more to become the strongest on the continent, to bring the Drakers to their knees and strip away their mask of deceit.
Eunja, noticing Sieg’s troubled expression, spoke up.
“Are you alright? You don’t look so good.”
“I’m fine. More importantly… where is the Holy Grail now?”
Eunja closed her fan and waved it through the air.
The storybooks vanished, and a scroll unfurled in midair, revealing a map of the continent.
The map zoomed in, highlighting a specific area in the desert.
“The Holy Grail is here. After Claudia’s death, Terrakan Draker returned it to its original location to prevent its misuse.”
Sieg marked the location on his map.
“The desert, huh. Not exactly an easy place to reach.”
“The Fairy King created it with good intentions for humanity, but it’s too dangerous depending on how it’s used. Terrakan Draker must have thought it best to keep it out of human hands.”
“If it falls into the wrong hands, like those of demons, it could be catastrophic.”
Eunja nodded in agreement with Sieg’s assessment.
Sieg turned to Eunja.
“I’ll retrieve the relic. In the meantime, could you find the whereabouts of the other two?”
“Got it. I’ll let you know as soon as I find anything. Oh, wait a moment.”
Eunja went inside and returned with something in hand.
“Since you’ve shared so much today, I have a little gift for you.”
He handed Sieg an old box.
“What’s this?”
“Judging by your equipment, you probably have better gear than I can offer, so I picked something you might not have. Open it outside.”
“Understood.”
Just as Sieg was about to thank him, Eunja tapped his fan, and Sieg’s vision flashed.
When he blinked, he found himself back in the forest from earlier.
The whole encounter felt like a dream.
“The Storyteller… quite different from Master Nigel.”
Sieg shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked at the gift in his hand.
He opened the box slowly to reveal a gold ring encrusted with jewels.
“A ring?”
Sieg examined the ring with his dragon’s eye.
―Ring Information―
Description: A mysterious ring imbued with the power of luck.
Unique Ability: Luck
Special Note: Bestows luck upon its owner.
“A ring that grants luck?”
Sieg inspected the ring curiously.
He had seen many items, but a ring that bestowed luck was a first.
After some thought, Sieg decided to consume the ring with his Devour skill. It was a gift, so he figured it wouldn’t matter how he used it.
“I’ve never really wished for luck, but…”
As he devoured the ring, a message appeared before him.
[You have devoured the Golden Ring imbued with the power of luck.]
[You have absorbed a portion of the ancient dragon’s authority contained within the ring.]
[You have acquired the Authority of Fortune.]
[Due to the absorbed ability, the skill proficiency of the Dragon’s Sense skill has increased.]
“Oh? I gained an authority?”
Unexpectedly, Sieg had acquired a new authority.
It seemed the ring given by Eunja had been crafted by a dragon.
Not only did it grant an authority, but it also enhanced his Dragon’s Sense skill, making it a valuable acquisition.
“Is this the effect of luck too?”
Satisfied with his unexpected fortune, Sieg began his descent from Mount Ouroboros.
“Abel.”
William Siemens entered the cabin where Abel was.
Abel sat with his eyes closed, holding a peculiar black dagger.
He slowly opened his eyes and sheathed the dagger, turning to William.
“What is it?”
“The mouse has sent a signal.”
Abel’s eyes sharpened at William’s words.
“What did it say?”
“It seems Sieg Draker has set a new destination after leaving Mount Ouroboros.”
“A new destination? Where?”
“The desert region.”
“Hmm.”
Abel rose slowly from his seat.
He glanced at the map of the continent on the cabin wall, a smile tugging at his lips.
“The desert, huh. Things might just go our way.”
“Should I contact the Abyss?”
Abel nodded.
“Yes, and also reach out to the Scorpion Clan and the Salmak.”
“Both of them? The Scorpions and the Salmak won’t want to work together.”
“Divide the area between them. Make sure they don’t lose track of where Sieg is headed. Most likely… there’s a relic where he’s going.”
The mention of a relic made William swallow hard.
He spoke slowly.
“What about the Empire and the Holy Kingdom?”
“If Sieg knows the location of the relic, there’s no need to chase the Heir. As long as a Lubern descendant opens the door, it should be fine.”
“The Lubern descendants are monopolized by the Holy Kingdom.”
“If we only inform the Holy Kingdom, the Emperor will throw a fit. Inform both sides.”
“Both the Holy Kingdom and the Empire? Isn’t that overkill? What if they get the relic first?”
“With Sieg, it doesn’t feel like overkill. Since I can’t go myself, it’s better to be cautious.”
There was a glint of madness in Abel’s eyes.
William knew from experience that Abel was most dangerous in this state.
If not for an important upcoming deal, Abel would have headed to the desert himself.
Just then, someone knocked on the cabin door.
“Come in.”
A member of the Red Lion Corps entered, bowing to the two men.
“Captain, the path to the island is about to open.”
“Understood. Those fishmen are quite cautious.”
“They’ve quickly risen to power among the fierce pirates of the South Sea. We can’t let our guard down.”
Abel patted William on the shoulder.
“William, this is why I like you. Let’s go.”
Abel and William left the cabin and stepped onto the deck of the warship.
Ahead of them lay an island, crescent-shaped, with only one entrance.
A massive whirlpool churned in that passage.
Roaring violently, the whirlpool gradually subsided.
Soon, the sea was calm as if nothing had happened.
Abel watched the now-placid waters and spoke.
“Fascinating.”
“The ancient fishmen were said to wield mysteries beyond our magical knowledge. Rumor has it that Peter Pan inherited those ancient secrets.”
A small boat approached the warship from the island, carrying young fishmen dressed as pirates.
Their hands and feet were webbed, and gills adorned their necks.
One of the fishmen called out to Abel.
“Only two may enter.”
Without hesitation, Abel leaped onto the boat with the fishmen.
With a resigned sigh, William effortlessly leaped onto the boat, joining Abel as they set course for Crescent Island.
As the boat entered the island’s waters, the sea grew turbulent, forming a massive whirlpool.
Crescent Island served as the headquarters for the merman pirates of the Peter Pan crew.
A merman pirate guided Abel toward the main building, which had a unique structure—built over the sea, its floor connected directly to the water below.
Abel and William walked down a plank corridor, heading to where Captain Peter Pan awaited.
The door to the captain’s cabin, made of haphazardly nailed planks, swung open.
They stepped inside, only to find it empty.
William turned to the merman who had opened the door. “Where’s the captain?”
Just then, a voice rumbled up from the floor, as if vibrating through the water beneath them.
“What business does a Draker have with me?”
Amused, Abel peered at the seawater beneath the floor. “Nice to meet you, Peter Pan. I’m Abel Draker, known as the Lion Sword on the continent.”
The water vibrated again, carrying the words, “The Mad Knight.”
William’s expression hardened at the mention, but Abel remained unfazed. “Call me what you like. So, are you going to show yourself? I’d prefer to talk face-to-face.”
Peter Pan remained silent.
Abel grinned and took a seat. “I’ll ask again. Why have the Drakers come to the sacred sea? If you’re here to invade our territory…”
“Peter Pan, we’re here to propose a deal.”
“A deal with the Drakers? That’s laughable.”
It was the Draker family, after all, who had wiped out the southern pirates. The idea of a Draker wanting to negotiate with pirates was absurd.
Abel glanced at the passage leading to the sea below. “If you agree to the deal, I’ll tell you where Captain Kidd’s treasure island is. How about it?”
Peter Pan fell silent, contemplating the offer.
Abel gave him a moment before speaking again. “Join forces with me, Peter Pan, and you could become the new Pirate King. Isn’t that tempting?”
The sea suddenly roiled violently.
Abel chuckled.
“Ha… Ha…”
The scorching sun beat down on Zeke and Boris, the heat shimmering off the sand beneath their feet.
Boris turned to Zeke. “Boss, are you sure about this?”
“If you say it one more time, that’ll make it a hundred, Boris.”
“I’d say it a thousand times if it would change your mind.”
“Why are you so scared after visiting the Ishtar Palace?”
Boris burst out, exasperated. “I almost died there, remember? At least we were guests! But this… this is a death trap! Why would you walk into Salmak’s lair when you’re on their hit list?”
Zeke raised a finger to his lips, signaling Boris to be quiet, and pointed ahead.
On the previously empty sand dune stood two figures, swords at their sides, turbans wrapped around their heads.
Zeke turned to Boris. “Looks like we’ve found the right place.”
Boris’s face fell into a worried frown.