Episode 28
“Zeke Draker is beyond my ability to evaluate.”
Duke said, looking genuinely surprised.
“Wow, is he really that exceptional?”
Aul replied with a serious expression.
“My personal opinion is that he should be sent to Valhalla immediately.”
A man more stoic than a stone.
Hearing Aul Draker’s assessment, Duke was left speechless.
The instructor standing behind them was equally at a loss.
“Do you really want me to report it like that?”
After gathering opinions from the headmaster and various department heads, it was decided that Zeke would skip ahead to the fifth year. He was skipping four entire grades.
When Duke relayed the decision to Zeke, he simply nodded quietly.
“You don’t seem too thrilled about skipping grades.”
“I am happy.”
In truth, Zeke’s emotions were a whirlwind. The transition from being the academy’s outcast to a prodigy of historic proportions was surreal. At this rate, he could graduate from the academy at fifteen.
‘In my past life, I was expelled from the academy at fifteen. Life is unpredictable.’
Given the circumstances, he resolved to graduate as quickly as possible.
Reina skipped two grades, and Liam, who excelled in the semester evaluations, was promoted from the regular class to the special class.
As a fifth-year, Zeke led a relatively quiet life at the academy. During this time, he even mastered the secret techniques of the Gale Force.
With nothing left to teach Zeke, Duke spent his time casually observing Andrei’s swordsmanship. He maintained a relationship with Professor Fainan, who had crafted a magical furnace for him, but they grew physically distant when Fainan moved to the Royal Magic Research Institute of Delphoa.
Fainan left Zeke a direct line, insisting he visit Delphoa.
Surprisingly, Aul Draker visited once a quarter to spar with Zeke. Under Duke Draker’s supervision, Zeke faced Aul. After two years of these encounters, Aul seemed to have an epiphany and requested a leave of absence to train in seclusion.
After two years of such events, Zeke was ready to take the academy’s graduation exam.
“Z-Zeke Draker. P-Passed.”
Zeke set a record for the fastest exam completion among all graduates. He looked at the academy graduation badge handed to him by the headmaster and smirked.
‘I used to want this so badly.’
Finally, he could let go of the academy, which had been a source of trauma for so long.
With a sense of relief, Zeke received another benefit upon graduation: a personal recommendation letter from the headmaster for admission to Valhalla. At fifteen, this was an unprecedented opportunity.
Zeke handed the recommendation letter from Howard to Decker.
“I’m so proud of you, young master.”
Decker, usually so stern, accepted the letter with a rare, flushed expression.
“It’s nothing to be proud of.”
Zeke replied nonchalantly.
“When does the Valhalla term start?”
“In March.”
“So, about three months left.”
Graduation exams typically took a month, but Zeke finished so quickly that he had time to spare. After a moment’s thought, he spoke to Decker.
“Decker, go ahead to Atlas and secure a place. I have somewhere to visit before the term starts.”
“Where are you planning to go?”
“I’m thinking of taking a break at a resort.”
“I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Good. Find a quiet spot in Argos.”
“Understood, young master.”
Just then, Liam entered the room.
“My lord, you called for me?”
Zeke handed Liam something he had prepared in advance. It was everything Liam would need until he graduated from the academy, including study guides for each semester’s evaluations. Zeke had prepared these himself, knowing Liam lacked family support.
“If you keep this up, you’ll make it to Valhalla. I’m counting on you, Liam.”
“I won’t let you down, my lord.”
“Good. And when you reach the fourth year, you’ll need a proper sword. I’ve spoken to Gelion, so go and have one made to suit you.”
Liam looked at Zeke with eyes full of gratitude.
“Don’t look at me like that; it’s overwhelming. Now, off you go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As Zeke prepared for graduation, he continued his personal training.
Woooom!
A powerful aura emanated from Zeke’s sword. His body vanished, leaving only afterimages.
Whoosh!
Zeke’s form appeared and disappeared throughout the training ground at incredible speed. Duke’s signature technique, the Gale Force, was fully realized through Zeke.
A blue energy surged from Zeke’s sword as he moved like the wind.
Woooom!
A clear aura blade formed on Zeke’s sword. He swung it.
Dragon Slayer Technique
Gale Force
Wind Slash
The gale-like sword cleaved through the air.
Boom!
Simultaneously, a message appeared in Zeke’s vision.
[Your proficiency in the special skill Gale Force has increased.]
“Whew…”
Zeke lowered his sword and checked his status window.
[Junior Administrator Status Window]
Name: Zeke Draker
Class: Immortal (Unique Grade)
Title: Blessed by the Ancient Dragon, Heir of Terracan Draker
Authority: Dragon Kin Control
Constitution: Celestial Bone Structure
System Features: Inventory (100 slots) / Mini-map / Beginner Quest Book
Passive Skills: Healing Factor / Strong Mental Defense / Infinite Stamina / Combat Sense
Special Skills: Gale Force [Grade A (Proficient)]
Active Skills: Magic Reflection [Grade A (Beginner)] / Area Buff [Grade A (Beginner)]
Dragon Skills (Stage 2 Unlocked): Dragon’s Eye (Proficient) / Dragon’s Majesty (Proficient) / Devour (Beginner) / Word Magic (Locked) / Dragon Scale Armor (Proficient) / Dragon Claw (Proficient)
Karma Points: 365
The Gale Force, which had been stuck at beginner level, finally advanced to proficient. Zeke skillfully wielded his sword, creating an aura blade.
“Finally broke through the wall of the Blue Knight.”
Unlike his past life, where he relied on the risky Soul Force, Zeke was now paving a new, systematic path. He hadn’t yet found the way to become a Red Knight, but he wasn’t in a hurry. He planned to take each step carefully.
Rapid growth could raise the barrier to becoming a Black Knight. In his past life, Zeke had tried to surpass the Black Knight barrier, but his methods as a rogue had clear limits.
‘No need to rush.’
Over the past two years, he had brought most of his skills to a proficient level, expanding his range of techniques beyond what he had before his regression.
The secret swordsmanship of Kaishir in the Giant Mountains and the secure archives of Terracan Draker in Valhalla would surely open the path to becoming a Black Knight.
He picked up Bahamut and swung his sword again. His desire to grow stronger filled the training room.
Argos, located at the northern tip of the central continent, was the closest kingdom to the northern continent. Despite lacking strategic resources, Argos was one of the central four kingdoms, alongside Thebea, Delphoa, and Alencia, due to its thriving dungeon-related industry.
From facilities for adventurers to equipment and personnel for party formation, everything needed for dungeon exploration was available here.
Argos’s Adventurers’ Guild boasted a thousand-year history. While the guild had branches across the continent, its headquarters was in Argos. All adventurers were required to register at this main branch, drawing aspiring adventurers from all over the continent.
“Next, number 547.”
The guild employee at the Argos Adventurers’ Guild called the next registrant in a businesslike tone. The person who approached with their paperwork looked quite young, barely twenty at most.
A young man with brown hair and green eyes handed over his documents.
“Zeke Murray, is that correct?”
Zeke, having dyed his hair and changed his eye color with lenses, nodded. He had submitted his registration under the alias he used in his previous life.
The employee checked the documents and, finding no issues, stamped them.
“Take this to get your registration card. Next, number 548.”
Zeke took the stamped documents and received his guild membership card. He had entrusted his false identity to a reliable source he had used before his regression, so there were no issues.
Thus, Zeke, having told Decker he was going to Argos for a vacation, secretly slipped away to create an adventurer’s identity. His goal was to find the ruins of Kaishir.
With his registration card in hand, Zeke sought out the regular carriage heading to the base camp of the Giant Mountains.
The Giant Mountains were home to countless hidden dungeons. Some ancient relics found there were valuable enough to live off for a lifetime.
Thousands of adventurers flocked there, hoping for such a windfall.
Zeke, now one of them, was headed to the Barbarian’s domain deep within the Giant Mountains.
Even with a mini-map, venturing into the treacherous Giant Mountains without preparation was akin to suicide.
The Giant Mountains were divided into hundreds of zones, with regular transport carriages heading up.
So, it was far more efficient to move to the base camp closest to the Barbarian territory and start the search for the ruins of Kaishir from there.
Because of this, Zeke tried to find a private carriage, but with the dungeon exploration season in full swing, it wasn’t easy to secure one.
In the end, Zeke managed to snag a single seat on a shared carriage. After spending the night at an inn, he boarded the regular transport carriage that departed at dawn.
Looking around at his fellow passengers, Zeke noticed a few adventurer types, but most seemed to be traveling merchants.
They were likely heading to the base camp to purchase monster materials or sell supplies needed by adventurers.
As Zeke observed the passengers, his gaze settled on a young porter wedged between the adventurers and merchants.
He was momentarily lost in thought, recalling his past.
After being expelled from the academy, Zeke had wandered aimlessly until he saw an ad for porters needed at the Argos dungeon. Without much thought, he hopped on a carriage heading there.
He had believed the promise that being a porter would cover room and board.
But upon arrival, the reality was far from what was promised. He had to sleep in a warehouse-like accommodation, and meals were scarce, barely one a day.
Half of his earnings as a porter were taken by the boss as a “fee,” and after deducting food and lodging costs from the remaining half, he was left with almost nothing.
To make matters worse, the boss forcibly took what little was left, claiming to save it for him.
Remembering those days, Zeke ground his teeth in frustration.
In his previous life, one of the first things he did after gaining power was to track down that boss and exact a brutal revenge, leaving no words unsaid about his grudge.
As the carriage neared the base camp, a man with a sword from an adventurer party sitting across from Zeke struck up a conversation.
“Are you an adventurer too?”
Zeke didn’t respond, maintaining his silence.
The man leaned forward, insisting, “When someone talks to you, you should answer. You look like it’s your first time heading to a dungeon.”
Then, the man slid over next to Zeke.
“Since we’re on the topic, if it’s your first time, why not join us? I’m saying this for your own good. Dungeons are dangerous these days, and going in alone is a quick way to become monster food.”
Zeke found the chatter of the man beside him irritating. He was likely one of those who preyed on naive rookie adventurers.
They’d use them as bait when monsters appeared or sell them to slavers for a profit. Many who entered dungeons never returned, and it wasn’t uncommon for such criminals to claim they had died and sell them off.
As Zeke fumed internally, the man tried to buddy up, throwing an arm around his shoulder.
Then he showed off a badge pinned to his collar.
“See this? I’m from the famous Draker Academy. You know the Draker family, right? They say the first party you enter a dungeon with can make or break your adventuring career.”
Despite the man’s attempts, Zeke remained unresponsive, which seemed to irk him, making his tone rougher.
“Ha, what’s wrong with you? Can’t you talk? Here I am, an experienced adventurer, offering you a chance, and you’re acting all high and mighty.”
Finally, Zeke spoke up.
“Just shut up, will you?”
The man’s eyes flickered with surprise.
“What? You little punk, how dare you—”
The man glared at Zeke with a menacing expression.
Just then, Zeke stood up abruptly, his gaze fixed on something in the distance.
He addressed the driver.
“There’s a group of monsters about 500 meters to the left. Looks like a pack of orcs. Is this area known for monster sightings?”
The adventurer behind him chuckled dismissively.
“Kid, monsters can’t get into this area. Stop acting like a big shot and sit down.”
At that moment, a loud battle cry echoed from afar.
“Graaaah!”
The sound of orc war cries filled the air.