Episode 254
“Hades, it seems I need to step away for a bit.”
Zeke spoke to Hades, who was floating lazily in the garden, basking in the sunlight.
Hades turned his head slightly and replied, “Step away? Then hurry up and make your wish before you go. I have some errands to run myself.”
Zeke asked, “Are you planning to search for the other dragons?”
When Zeke had stayed at the Ishtar Palace, he had mentioned to Hades that he might be the last living dragon.
Hades had scoffed at the idea, suggesting that most dragons had either burrowed deep into the earth to sleep or had migrated to the Eastern Continent. It was likely they chose hibernation or fled to avoid demons seeking to possess their bodies.
When Zeke asked if Hades intended to find the other dragons, Hades shook his head.
“Dragons are not like humans. Even if I am the only dragon left in this realm, so what? That too is a choice made by the others.”
“Then where are you planning to go?”
“I haven’t decided. Haven’t you heard of a dragon’s play? We wander around looking for something interesting, settle down for a hundred years if we find a place we like, then move on when we get bored. Sometimes we sleep for centuries. That’s the typical life of a dragon. We’ve lost much by making contracts with humans.”
Despite their immense power, the lives of dragons were surprisingly uneventful. Their inherent strength came with many karmic restrictions, limiting what they could do in the physical world.
Zeke suggested, “Since you have nothing else to do, why not spend some time researching mechanical constructs here? I’ll provide everything you need.”
“You cheeky brat, trying to use a high-class dragon’s power for free.”
“What if I offered you enough orichalcum to create a guardian you like?”
“What? You have that much orichalcum?”
“Not yet, but I believe I can make it.”
Hades eyed Zeke with suspicion. In response, Zeke pulled out Agamemnon’s mask.
“And what’s this?”
“It’s a relic containing the power of a sage, as you mentioned.”
Hades was taken aback. “How did you come to possess this?”
“It was passed down as a sacred artifact in the Agamemnon family, and I received it. The relic’s power is currently sealed, but we can restore it by finding the Fairy Lake.”
“Hmm.”
After pondering Zeke’s words, Hades finally nodded. “Alright, fine. You promised enough orichalcum to create a guardian.”
“Yes, but I’ll need your help to achieve that.”
“Humans are as cunning as ever. Fine, prepare a workshop for me.”
“I’ll arrange the best room in the castle for you.”
Having Hades stay at Agamemnon Castle was a significant advantage for Zeke. Satisfied with the outcome, he instructed that Hades and Yellin’s group remain at the castle, then summoned Bucephalus.
Neigh!
Bucephalus, the dragon horse, neighed joyfully at the sight of Zeke, feeling an even stronger bond with him now that Zeke’s dragon powers had grown.
Hades approached, intrigued. “A dragon horse, you say? Quite a rare creature you have there.”
Zeke patted Bucephalus’s mane. “It would be nice to travel together more often, but his appearance is too distinct from ordinary horses, so I can’t summon him frequently.”
“Is that so?”
Hades pondered for a moment, then waved his hand over Bucephalus.
A soft hum resonated as Bucephalus’s form was enveloped in light, transforming from a dragon horse into a magnificent, dark blue steed.
Zeke was astonished. “Is this magic?”
“I merely altered his appearance using his own power. Now the dragon horse can do it himself. Ask him when you need it.”
Dragons certainly had their share of fascinating tricks. Zeke felt his efforts to free Hades had been worthwhile.
He mounted the newly transformed Bucephalus. “Bucephalus, we can travel together more often now.”
Neigh!
Bucephalus reared up, clearly pleased, and Zeke bid a brief farewell to Hades before departing for the advanced knight exam in Mycenae.
Zeke rode Bucephalus towards the city of Canus, home to the Valdeck family.
Located north of Atlas, Canus wasn’t one of the top five cities in Midland, but it played a strategically vital role within the Draker family.
Canus was the largest weapons manufacturing hub across the central continent.
The three allied families of Draker were known as the Strength of Turn, the Wisdom of Siemens, and the Gold of Valdeck. Here, “Gold” referred to the metals used in weapon crafting.
Iron from the northern continent’s mines was brought to Canus, forged into weapons, and supplied to the Draker family.
Given the Draker family’s influence across the continent, their military forces were substantial, and half of their weapons were crafted by the Valdeck family.
Originally a blacksmith family, Valdeck had earned a noble title and become a knightly family during the Holy Empire era, yet they never forgot their roots, continuing to prioritize weapon crafting.
Moreover, the Valdeck family owned mines in the north, producing high-quality iron, making Valdeck weapons renowned for their durability since the Holy Empire days.
Today, the Valdeck family collaborated with Siemens, alchemists, and the Mage Tower to develop new advanced weapons.
While not as transcendent as the Nirvana family, they produced and exported cost-effective magical weapons, amassing wealth and influence.
It was no exaggeration to say that Valdeck, not Graham Bank, held the largest cash reserves available for immediate use on the continent.
Though the journey to Canus was long, Bucephalus’s speed allowed Zeke to reach the city’s walls in just two days.
Opting for a direct route with Bucephalus rather than exposing his movements through a portal seemed a more strategic choice, given the Valdeck family’s alliance with Siemens.
Beyond Canus’s walls, plumes of smoke rose from numerous weapon workshops operating tirelessly.
Zeke guided Bucephalus towards the city gate, where a long line of military merchants from across the continent waited to enter and purchase arms.
Security was tight, with heavily armed soldiers standing guard, and Valdeck family knights and mages discreetly stationed throughout.
As Zeke approached the gate on horseback, a soldier stepped forward.
“You can’t ride any further from here. Please dismount.”
Zeke complied and addressed the soldier, “I have a message for the head of the family. Could you escort me to the main house?”
The soldier scoffed, “The head isn’t someone you can meet on a whim. Best to queue up and get a pass like everyone else.”
At nineteen, Zeke appeared to be a fresh-faced knight aspirant, and without wearing the Draker insignia, his identity was unrecognizable.
After a moment’s thought, Zeke showed the soldier his Dragon Slayer badge, the emblem of a Draker knight.
The soldier gasped, startled. “Are you… Sir Zeke Draker?”
There was only one Draker knight of such a young age: Zeke Draker, the Hero of the Sea.
The youngest to achieve the rank of Blue Knight, the one who broke the curse of the Haunted Mansion after a thousand years.
Recognizing Zeke, the soldier saluted. “Sir! It’s an honor to meet you! Please, follow me.”
With his identity revealed, Zeke passed through the gate smoothly.
Once inside, a carriage awaited to take him directly to the Valdeck family’s main house.
No longer the disregarded outcast of the past, Zeke’s reputation as the Hero of the Sea had grown.
Supported by influential families like Agamemnon and Graham, and having received the territory of Troy at such a young age, Zeke was a figure of legendary achievements.
Though his fame was slightly overshadowed by Abel’s recent promotion to Black Knight, Zeke’s accomplishments were nonetheless extraordinary.
The carriage traversed the city, stopping at the main house situated on the highest ground in the north.
The Valdeck family, having been informed of Zeke’s visit, awaited his arrival.
As Zeke stepped out of the carriage, he recognized a familiar face.
“Jaken.”
His cousin and fellow cradle companion, Jaken Valdeck, stood in formal attire, greeting him with a respectful bow.
“Welcome, Sir Zeke.”
In the past, Jaken had once trapped Zeke and Liam during an academy exam.
Now, Zeke looked at Jaken with calm eyes, noting how different his demeanor was from their academy days.
With a quick assessment, Zeke gauged Jaken’s abilities.
“Still hasn’t surpassed the Purple Knight level, I see.”
For their age group, Jaken’s skills were impressive enough to be considered exceptional. However, Reina and Liam, who had already surpassed the Purple Knight level, were in a league of their own, recognized as geniuses even within the elite ranks of Dreiker.
Zeke approached Jaken and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“It’s been a while.”
“O-oh, yes, it has, Sir Zeke!” Jaken stammered, visibly tense, worried that Zeke might still hold a grudge over past events.
But Zeke had long since moved on, barely giving Jaken a second thought.
“I’m here to see the lord. Could you show me the way?”
Jaken, breaking into a cold sweat, replied, “The lord is out hunting at the moment.”
“Is that so? Then perhaps you could lead me there.”
Jaken, who had hoped to avoid Zeke, found himself with no choice but to guide him to the hunting grounds where the lord was.
“Of course, right this way.”
To reach the hunting grounds, Jaken brought out a horse, while Zeke mounted his own, Bucephalus.
The vast forest within the Valdek estate served as the lord’s private hunting grounds. Being close to the northern territories, winter had already arrived, blanketing the forest in snow.
As they rode side by side, Zeke asked, “Are you still attending the academy?”
Jaken’s face flushed with embarrassment as he managed to reply, “I… I’m graduating this year.”
Zeke had already graduated from Valhalla and become a full-fledged knight of Dreiker, earning the title of the Sea Lord’s Knight. In contrast, Jaken felt ashamed of still being at the academy.
Zeke’s casual question struck Jaken like a dagger, igniting a sense of humiliation.
“One day, I’ll repay this disgrace,” Jaken vowed silently, conveniently forgetting his own past misdeeds against Zeke and instead fueling a pointless desire for revenge.
Just then, a gunshot echoed through the forest.
Jaken turned to Zeke. “It sounds like the lord is over there.”
Jaken spurred his horse towards the sound, with Zeke following closely behind, his expression now serious.
“Why would the lord of Valdek have a magic gun?”
In his previous life, magic guns had only appeared during the continental war with the advent of the Night Killer. Yet, in this life, their emergence seemed to have accelerated.
Zeke’s return to the past was subtly altering the course of future events. Puzzled, he continued to follow Jaken.