Episode 88

“Congratulations on winning the tournament.”

Every time Zeke passed by, the knights of the Four Seasons Castle greeted him warmly. It was hard to believe these were the same prickly Draker knights, now showing such goodwill.

When Zeke first received his official knighthood, there were quite a few within the castle who weren’t too fond of him. But after the tournament, the atmosphere had completely changed. Zeke could now feel the full weight of the Draker Tournament’s prestige.

As he made his way to the lord’s office, acknowledging the knights’ greetings, a secretary welcomed him at the door.

“The lord is expecting you.”

Guided by the secretary, Zeke entered the office where Arthur Draker awaited him.

“Zeke, come in.”

As always, Arthur had prepared a rare tea from the Eastern Empire. Zeke took a seat and savored the aroma.

“I thought you’d be off enjoying the winner’s banquet for months,” Arthur remarked, looking at Zeke. “I was completely wrong.”

Typically, a Draker Tournament winner would celebrate with their sponsor family and other associates, followed by a tour across the continent, attending parties hosted by various families and basking in newfound fame. But Zeke had neither held a banquet nor accepted any invitations.

“I’m not much for parties,” Zeke replied.

Arthur nodded in understanding. “I was the same at your age. I thought parties were just distractions for those lacking dedication, while I focused on honing my skills.”

Arthur set his teacup down and continued, “But remember this: even if you become a Black Knight, you can’t face the entire continent alone. Even two Black Knights together can’t escape death.”

Zeke was surprised to hear such words from Arthur Draker, one of the continent’s strongest. The Black Knights were known as one-man armies, yet even they had their limits.

Zeke suddenly thought of the Hero King, Kaisir. ‘If it were Master Kaisir, even multiple Black Knights wouldn’t stand a chance.’

The power of a Black Knight was akin to a Sword Master from the Hero King’s era. But the Hero King had surpassed that, reaching the level of a Grand Master.

‘If I could surpass the Black Knight and become a Grand Master…’

He could become an absolute ruler, looking down on everything.

Arthur observed Zeke and said, “I doubt my words mean much to you now.”

Zeke looked up at Arthur. “No, I understand. Your words about the importance of relationships are something I’ll keep close to my heart.”

Arthur chuckled at Zeke’s model answer. “Enough with the formalities. Come over here.”

Arthur led Zeke to his personal collection room, where rare items from across the continents were displayed in glass cases. With his dragon’s eye, Zeke could discern the nature of each item.

‘Most of these are from before the Golden Age, likely from the Hero King’s time.’

Arthur, like Emperor Rom, had amassed a collection of ancient relics. As they walked through the displays, Arthur stopped at one particular spot—a worn-out box. He slowly opened it, revealing an unexpected item.

‘A pocket watch?’

Arthur carefully took out the old pocket watch and looked at Zeke. “This is the only thing Laura left me.”

Zeke was taken aback. “Is this my mother’s keepsake?”

Arthur nodded. “Yes, Laura always carried this with her.”

Zeke watched Arthur’s eyes as he gazed at the watch. The man, known for his steely demeanor, looked at it with a wistful expression.

After a moment, Arthur turned to Zeke and handed him the watch. “I want you to have it.”

“You’re giving this to me?”

“You wanted to know about Laura, didn’t you?”

“This watch doesn’t hold everything about her.”

“Laura used this watch to glimpse into realms we can’t see. She found it in the Northern Continent. Beyond that, I don’t know much. She was always full of secrets.”

Laura Agamemnon, an irregular and a healer, had mysteries even her husband, Arthur Draker, couldn’t fully unravel.

Holding the watch, Zeke asked Arthur, “May I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

Zeke clenched his fist. “Did you ever think I might have inherited a healer’s talent?”

Arthur paused before answering slowly, “I did.”

Zeke’s hand trembled slightly.

Arthur continued, “But Zeke, you weren’t a healer. You’re a proud pureblood awakened of the Draker family.”

Zeke clenched his teeth. ‘Would you have abandoned me if I weren’t a pureblood awakened?’

He swallowed the words, memories of past hardships flashing through his mind.

Arthur spoke again, “Zeke, let me give you one piece of advice. Don’t delve too deeply into Laura Agamemnon.”

Zeke looked up. “What do you mean?”

“Laura was a healer, but she was also an irregular. You know what that means.”

In the Central Continent, irregulars were seen as cursed. Having irregular blood wouldn’t be advantageous for Zeke. Duke had initially mistaken Zeke for an irregular and deliberately kept it hidden for a reason.

Zeke bowed his head to Arthur. “I will heed your advice.”

Arthur placed a hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “Remember, you’re a proud pureblood awakened of the Draker family. Don’t forget that.”

Zeke nodded, clutching his mother’s pocket watch tightly.

---

Back at his estate, Zeke went to his room to examine the pocket watch.

“Why did Mother leave this watch as her final keepsake?”

As he pondered, Zeke realized the watch seemed familiar.

‘Where have I seen this before?’

Suddenly, a memory sparked in his mind.

“Shaton Draker!”

He recalled the time he learned the True Dragon Sword Technique and awakened Bahamut’s memory. The pocket watch Shaton Draker had when he visited Bahamut, the Ruler of Dusk, matched this one.

Zeke remembered the watch’s connection to Chronos’s power.

‘Could Chronos’s power be the power of prophecy?’

He examined the watch, running his fingers over its smooth, albeit aged, surface. Inside, the watch face had a large central clock surrounded by smaller ones, all with stopped hands.

Zeke decided to try something. He channeled his mana into the watch.

‘Will this work?’

Ancient relics like the Herseion or Agamemnon’s golden mask had responded to mana before. This watch, too, might react.

As he infused mana into the watch, nothing happened at first. But then he remembered something else.

Some ancient relics responded to the user’s blood. Zeke pricked his finger with a dagger, letting a few drops fall onto the watch, then tried channeling mana again.

Suddenly, the blood was absorbed into the watch, and a message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.

[Detecting the spirit of an Elder Dragon in the user’s blood.]

[Releasing the dormant state of the ancient relic.]

[???‘s watch is temporarily activated.]

[The title ‘Blessed by the Ancient Dragon’ unlocks ???‘s watch.]

[Connecting ???‘s watch to the system.]

[An authentication key is required to fully activate ???‘s watch.]

[You must enter the Temple of Chronos to update the authentication key.]

“An authentication key?”

A new quest window appeared before Zeke.

―Main Quest Mission―

[Update the authentication key to activate ???‘s watch. (No time limit)]

[Quest Mission Reward: Granting of Chronos’s Authority]

“Chronos’s Authority?”

Zeke knew the power of Bahamut’s authority, the Dominion over Dragonkind.

‘If Chronos, the Hero King’s contract dragon, has power comparable to Bahamut…’

Zeke opened the map to locate the quest’s specified location for updating the key.

“This place?”

The location was none other than ‘Aten,’ in the eastern part of the Northern Continent.

“Hmm, Aten, of all places.”

Zeke’s reluctance stemmed from Aten being the domain of the Nirvana family, one of the three transcendent families. While the Drakers dominated Midland and the Ishtars held sway over the southern borderlands and desert regions, the Nirvanas exerted significant influence over Aten and the surrounding stormy seas.

“Well, it’s not like I can’t go there. There’s a lot to prepare for, though. I’ll have to update the authentication key while I’m at it.”

In his past life, Zeke had spent more time on the Northern Continent than the Central Continent.

As a result, he remembered all the hidden treasures and opportunities that lay there.

He recalled the hidden dungeon of the Grand Mage in Aten.

‘It’ll be a while before anyone discovers that place.’

With the need to find both the Seal of Chronos and the clock’s authentication key, he knew he had to move quickly.

Zeke carefully placed the pocket watch into his inventory.

Just then, Decker entered the room.

“Young master, you have visitors.”

“If it’s another party invitation, just send them away.”

Decker shook his head.

“Miss Kali and Miss Helen Draker are here to see you.”

“My sisters?”

Zeke rose from his seat and headed to the sitting room.

Unlike before, Kali and Helen were dressed in casual attire, seated comfortably on the sofa.

Zeke approached and greeted them.

“Welcome. I didn’t expect you both to come in person.”

Kali smiled warmly at his words.

“It’s fine. We can’t just summon the champion of the martial arts tournament whenever we please.”

Zeke returned her smile and took a seat opposite them.

Kali turned to him and said, “As expected, Helen is one of us. She wanted to test your skills firsthand, which is why she entered the tournament.”

Zeke nodded at Kali’s words and looked at Helen.

“Thank you for your consideration, Dame Helen. If you had used your bloodline abilities, I surely would have lost.”

Helen flinched slightly at his comment.

“You even know about my bloodline abilities? Zeke, you’re becoming more and more intimidating.”

Zeke grinned.

“Think of it as a personal interest in the Knight of Steel.”

Kali, watching the exchange with a fond smile, spoke again.

“The reason we’re here is because of the current situation in the Four Seasons Castle.”

Zeke nodded, understanding her implication.

“You mean keeping Abel Draker in check.”

“Exactly. Soon, the Elder Council will convene to discuss granting Abel the title of Guardian Knight.”

Zeke’s expression hardened at this.

Unlike regular knights, a Guardian Knight of the Draker family could directly influence the family’s operations.

The Elder Council, the Cross Order with its internal audit authority, and the Guardian Knights’ Order, which acted as the executive body, were the main powers steering the Draker family.

If Abel were to receive the title, his influence within the family would undoubtedly increase.

Kali looked at Zeke and said, “Abel is lobbying the elders to secure the Guardian Knight title.”

Lobbying was just a polite way of saying he was using the Empire’s power to sway them.

“Zeke, I have a favor to ask of you.”

She continued slowly, “Go to the Republic of Dortha and stop the dealings between Abel and the Empire.”