The front of the Bask Workshop was overflowing with people.
Rustle, rustle—
“Doesn’t look like I’ll be able to leave my sword here.”
Theo scratched the back of his head as he looked at the scene beyond the carriage.
He’d heard that the number of visitors had surged since he became the heir of the clan.
But this... this was on a whole new level.
Above all else—
<Attention! Congratulations to Theo for becoming the heir!>
<Special heir-themed weapons on sale! A once-in-a-lifetime deal for only 39,800 gold!>
<Get the exclusive Theo Ragnar set here!>
<“When I swung my sword, everything fell before me.” All of Yacha Star’s blades are available here!>
<Want skin like Theo’s? Then try this foundation!>
<The heir’s favorite lip balm, limited to the first 300 customers!>
<We’re selling notebooks Theo used during his school days.>
...
The workshop was plastered with posters, banners, and even flags.
Everywhere he looked, Theo’s face was on full display.
Even the packaging of various goods was adorned with his image.
And, to top it off, the smiling face staring back at him from those advertisements made Theo cringe with discomfort.
“......”
They’re really rowing that boat while the tide’s in, huh.
Weapons and armor, sure—he could understand those being sold. But cosmetics? Stationery?
The problem wasn’t just the products themselves but the fact that people were buying them in droves.
Anything with Theo’s picture on it seemed to sell like hotcakes.
“...Maybe I should just give up and go home.”
The only reason he endured this embarrassment was because he had a stake in the profits. If not for that, he would’ve long told them to stop this nonsense out of sheer humiliation.
Maybe I should just head back. Ugh.
A bad premonition told him that stepping outside the carriage would mean getting swept up in the crowd.
Just as Theo was about to tell the coachman to turn around,
“Hey, that carriage... haven’t we seen it before?”
“The emblem’s a bit unique. Looks like it belongs to a direct line of the Ragnar clan.”
“That’s it! That’s the heir’s crest!”
“What? For real?”
“Yeah, I’m sure of it!”
“Then that means the person riding in there is the heir!”
The murmurs and chatter quickly turned into a commotion as the crowd began to realize who was inside the carriage.
“Coachman!”
Just like Theo, the coachman felt a chill run down his spine and whipped the reins hard. Or at least, he tried to.
“Kyaaaaah! Heir! Please sign this for me!”
“Don’t push! Ahhh, stop shoving!”
“Let me see that handsome face!”
The crowd swarmed the carriage, preventing it from moving forward.
And the more they pressed in, the more desperate they became, clinging like leeches.
At some point, it felt like they were moments away from prying open the door and dragging Theo out.
“Eek!”
Hands even reached through the slightly opened window, clawing inside.
It was like a scene straight out of a zombie movie.
For the first time, Theo found these people more terrifying than the Dragon Emperor.
Someone save me!
Clunk! Clunk!
The carriage door rattled violently, as if it might fall off at any moment.
Huddled in a corner, Theo trembled like a leaf.
***
“Huh? Why do you look so drained?”
Kirson tilted her head as she watched Theo shuffle into the office, looking utterly disheveled.
“It’s nothing... hahaha... ha...”
“...??”
Kirson’s face was filled with question marks, but Theo couldn’t bring himself to explain how he had been mobbed by the crowd outside.
As exaggerated as it might seem, those people were, after all, cheering for him.
Even if it took forever to get away from them...
There was no point complaining about it here—it wouldn’t help anything.
Theo sighed lightly and glanced around the office.
“Things look... a lot different in here.”
“Oh, this? Hahaha! Business has been booming lately, so I decided to spruce the place up a bit. Life’s been more fun than ever! Hahahaha!”
It wasn’t just a metaphor when Kirson said she’d “spruced the place up with gold.” It was literal.
Her fingers were adorned with rings on every finger, her arms jingled with golden bracelets, and six distinct necklaces hung around her neck.
Her earrings—at least a dozen of them—dangled from her ears, making her look like a tribal chieftain from some far-off jungle.
“......”
Even the decor in the room was extravagant: picture frames, chandeliers, lamps, cabinets, and even the carpet on the floor sparkled with gold dust.
Everywhere Theo looked, he saw gold. It made him wonder if he was still in a workshop or if he’d been transported to another world entirely.
Doesn’t that hurt her eyes?
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An elf who loves gold this much... the world really is full of surprises.
Theo had always known that Kirson’s personality was far from ordinary, even by high elf standards, but this felt more like a genetic mutation.
“Let me guess—next you’ll dye your hair gold?”
“Huh? How’d you know? I’ve already booked a hair appointment for tomorrow morning.”
“......”
“This old lady’s gonna look gorgeous, eh? Hahaha! Soon I’ll be living completely buried in gold!”
Theo couldn’t help but think of a cartoon duck swimming in a pile of gold coins back on Earth, but he shook his head to refocus.
“Anyway, what brings you here?”
“I need a sword repaired.”
“Repaired? That’s grunt work; leave it to the juniors downstairs—”
“I could always pull my likeness rights, you know. I’ve been getting a lot of ad deals lately.”
“Hahahaha! Oh, my dear grandson—no, my dear customer—if that’s what you wish, I’d raid a dragon’s nest for you! What is it you desire?”
『Why are they suddenly targeting my nest?!』
Kirson switched her tone immediately, rubbing her hands together like a sycophant.
She seemed to be emphasizing the word “grandson,” but Theo ignored it and pulled out his sword.
“This is an artifact of the Ancient Dragon.”
Schwing!
The moment the blade gleamed in the light, Kirson’s eyes changed completely.
Gone was the nouveau riche gleam; in its place was the sharp focus of a master craftsman.
Just as I thought.
Theo felt a sense of satisfaction at having come to the right place.
“The durability is severely weakened.”
Kirson carefully examined the blade from every angle with a discerning eye.
“It looks like it’s been pushed to its limits. Frankly, it’s a miracle it hasn’t broken yet. And yet... the edge still holds its sharpness.”
Thunk!
Vrrrrrrrr...
She tapped the blade lightly with her finger, and it emitted a dull, unclean sound.
“It doesn’t look like you were the one wielding it. Must’ve been someone quite skilled.”
The way she inspected the blade seemed almost supernatural, as if she could see its entire history at a glance.
Theo was impressed and nodded.
“Yes. It was used by the leader of Troiban. Before that, the Dragon Emperor forcibly unlocked its power. I believe the Sacred Demon Cult also tampered with it.”
“That’s complicated. Well, fanatics are always up to no good.”
Click!
Kirson clicked her tongue in open disdain for the Sacred Demon Cult and turned to Theo.
“It’s going to take quite some time to repair this. I’ll also need a lot of materials.”
“Money isn’t an issue.”
“It’s not about money. It’s about skill and dedication. I have the skill, so that’s not a problem.”
Kirson set the sword down on the table and took a puff from her pipe.
Huff—
“But dedication requires the right materials, and those will be very difficult to come by.”
“What kind of materials?”
“The rib of an Ancient Dragon.”
“......!”
“Think you can get it? It’s practically impossible. Even for you.”
Kirson chuckled bitterly, her words laced with sarcasm.
“They’ve been extinct for over a thousand years. It’s not like fossils are easy to come by, either. Unless a guardian dragon decides to return to the living—”
“I’ll get it.”
“—which would be difficu—huh?”
“All you need is the rib, right?”
Kirson blinked, dumbfounded, and nodded.
“Well, scales or claws imbued with the dragon’s blessing would also be great, but...”
“Would teeth work too?”
“Well... sure...”
“Just write down everything you need.”
“???”
Kirson’s face was full of question marks as Theo turned his head to the side, smiling faintly.
Standing there, in spectral form, was Lodbrok, arms crossed defensively over his chest.
『P-Partner! What are you planning?!』
“Loddy.”
『Why are you calling me that with such a foreboding tone?!』
“It’s about time you earned your keep, don’t you think?”
『!!!』
Ignoring Lodbrok’s panicked outcry, Theo gently ran his hand along the blade of the sword.
Just wait a little longer. I’ll restore you, no matter what.
Determination burned in Theo’s eyes.
***
News of the Selection for the New Hangryong Spreads
The announcement of a new Hangryong (Sky Dragon) selection quickly sent ripples through Winterer.
—So they’re holding a new Laurel Swordsmanship Competition? Do we even have anyone worthy for that spot?
—Of course! There’s Amore from the White Steel Dragon Vanguard, the Red Sword Knight Commander, and even several elders from the Council...
—And isn’t Kincarnon also a candidate?
—Ah, right! With Kincarnon’s skills, he’s definitely a strong contender for the position of Laurel Sword!
The vacant position, left open by Ed, had become a focal point of interest. Speculation buzzed about who would rise to fill the power vacuum and reshape the leadership.
The names being mentioned were those synonymous with Ragnar’s might and legacy.
But there was a looming issue.
—But will it really be okay?
—What do you mean?
—I mean Kincarnon. If he takes the position of Hangryong, won’t that put him at odds with the heir?
—Huh? Oh... yeah, you’re right...
Traditionally, the position of heir in Ragnar was akin to acting as the family head.
This meant the heir’s authority was considered equal to that of the Laurel Swords who represented the clan.
But if Kincarnon were to take the Hangryong seat?
For Theo, Kincarnon—already a potential threat as an eldest and respected figure—gaining additional power would be nothing short of dangerous.
This left many speculating on what path Kincarnon might choose.
The consensus was that he had two options:
First, Kincarnon could make a magnanimous decision.
He could put an end to the endless squabbles over succession—whether it be the fifth or sixth generation disputes—and focus on unity in preparation for the impending war against the Sacred Demon Cult by renouncing his claim.
Second, he could refuse to back down.
Before Theo’s rise, most had believed that Kincarnon was the inevitable successor to the family. It stood to reason that he might aim for the Hangryong seat as a step toward reclaiming his position.
And so, people waited anxiously for Kincarnon to make his declaration, believing that his decision would soon be made public.
It wasn’t long before an announcement came from his residence.
The message was brief, almost as if to encapsulate his resolve.
**—I will challenge for the position of Hangryong.
It was a clear signal: the competition for the throne was far from over.
Kincarnon’s ambitions had not faded.
But the announcements didn’t stop there.
**—I, too, will challenge for the position of Hangryong.
Ansio, too, entered the fray.
**—Why shouldn’t it be me?
Lezé, as well, declared their intent to compete.
The competition for the throne would not end here.
And so, the focus of the people turned sharply toward one question:
—What will the heir announce?
All eyes turned to Dongbaek Palace.