Chapter 132
Xx4ZxCommon sense is a set of prejudices that chains people, but it also constitutes order.IoIVmVl
7DAThat’s why, when someone tries to break it, people instinctively react with rejection.gtjS
a0LThey don’t want to see the order they’ve believed in until now crumble.sMw
gs8cF2IBut that only happens when someone tries to break common sense with insufficient power.SgerkL
UO2YXWhen something overwhelming shatters it head-on, what arises is reverence.PdyGCNZ
OFgXIn the eyes of the tribe members, Felicia clearly belonged to the latter case.Hb44ren
iB2yJT“Is that person the great warrior of the king?”TTD8Bow
ie4ZqFH“How disrespectful! Bow your heads!”vNq1
uaYU7Seeing Felicia walking beside Lucian, the members of the tribe knelt in unison.znSMjD
Qb28ZPBefore, all eyes had been focused solely on Lucian; now, it even seemed that Felicia drew more attention than he did.reR
zo9At the wave of reverence, Lucian smiled slightly and said.VFYjQ
WMnknu“So? How does it feel to be worshipped as the strongest warrior?”DSS
eo7TtH“To be honest, it feels a little strange. If they’re going to pay homage, it should be to Your Majesty…”IuTDV3o
iEpnt“I’m receiving plenty too. Look.”yKn
yBGB9Lucian gestured with his chin toward the members of the tribe, who were bowing not only to Felicia but also to him.ZprQttJ
mO6hoA powerful warrior, on their own, has the qualification to be a sovereign.Ea8rmj
iYtSbGiAnd if they’re the sovereign chosen by the strongest warrior, it’s only natural to think that they’re just as extraordinary—or even more.kp6
G89I2X“Well, although not as much as you, who are famous as the strongest warrior.”bJG93
Rqj“I’m sorry.”1MMwYi
vUUV“Sorry for what? That’s enough—don’t burden yourself with unnecessary pressure and enjoy it. It’s a sight you changed yourself through pure skill.”X11d
NvjuQFelicia wore an awkward expression at Lucian’s words, but couldn’t hide the slight blush on her cheeks.GBNh
RXS9RedBecause she was a woman, she had been scorned by her own father and her talent had been doubted.t3zoi
gnBJ8And now, with nothing but her swordsmanship, she had destroyed the common belief that a woman couldn’t be a warrior.Tkmbvm5
dfcE3GIt was true that it was overwhelming, but she also felt a strange joy and satisfaction deep in her chest.sue7IW
oBd8“…Even so, it’s not good for me to be receiving more attention than Your Majesty. Not just for my sake, but also from a political standpoint.”IXs
ufTUG“It’s fine. In any case, I plan to make an even greater impact today.”0zvr
t3OZuXLucian had no intention of letting the situation continue like this either.mUSWT
cQBRaThat Felicia stood out was a source of pride, but becoming a sovereign overshadowed by his own vassal was another matter.ITDA
P5I2m8In today’s second trial, Lucian planned to display a presence as impactful as Felicia’s, so the tundra tribes would understand what kind of being was the sovereign of that warrior.vFdyO
ZPQbBmF“They’ve arrived.”MvL
tWjKHWhen Lucian reached the chief’s dwelling, Ivar—already waiting—muttered quietly.7MWBc
lrgUTDgFor someone who couldn’t even properly declare the end of the first trial, he looked quite calm.6cV
BMULaH5“Since everyone is here, I will announce the content of the second trial.”waw5P3l
06YuxAfter glancing at Ainar, Brunda, and Lucian, Ivar raised his voice so the entire tribe could hear.kwR
lsi4Y“The second trial will be entrusted to our great ancestor who rests in the sanctuary. The heart of the dragon will judge for itself who has the right to challenge for the position of next chief!”ciUc
hCAOI“…!?”HsrpxA
i48K6At Ivar’s declaration, the tribe members flinched.CjOnD
vkrIt was already surprising to allow anyone but the chief to enter the sanctuary—but to entrust the trial to the heart?uZ1r
E72i“Chief, what do you mean? Is the heart of the dragon going to choose someone on its own?”3V6Vs3v
HUnVPvn“That’s right.”NbQK
M52y“Huh?”RpEYB
dlp“The heart of the dragon is alive. It even has the will to judge whether the one who touches it is a true warrior or a vile wretch.”nQiC0Qr
AWBd“…!?”OdkoSR
reWFaced with a revelation they had never heard before, the tribe members looked at each other in shock.oYF8JA8
X4UrarUntil now, they had believed the heart of the dragon was merely a sacred relic to honor the ancestors.EPN
pycGTo say that the heart itself breathed, had will, and judged warriors?RZzf5
UclkETo the confused tribe members, Ivar continued explaining calmly.tKW64l
I6Da“The heart of the dragon holds infinite power. If someone is qualified, they receive that power upon touching it. But if they are not, their body explodes and they die instantly.”NtdD
w00mAccording to Ivar, the heart’s judgment and the position of chief were not directly related.YhbTE
GBgadThat’s why previous chiefs had never touched the heart. Gaining power would be ideal, but the possibility of rejection was clear.S5G
WrO“But I took that risk and asked the heart of the dragon if I was qualified. And the heart judged me worthy and granted me power. This power you all know!”LaQ
xu1NexsWhooosh.ZjTL
n6uWbyAlong with a harsh wind, a flame-like glow flickered around Ivar’s body.L2mp5DY
Mnp7L6When the scorching heat mixed with the wind and brushed against the tribe members, they all flinched.ffN
MlrKe“The blue dragon’s flames…!”oj0XT
hpRNY“So that power came from the heart?”19cY
zD8p“Wasn’t it a blessing exclusive to the chief?”MHEc
qaSLucian glanced once at the murmuring tribe members, agitated all around.iTqOc
J23From their reactions, it seemed they knew of the power’s existence, but not that it came from the heart.Szpl1
0K6KoU‘Interesting. So that’s the energy that emanates from the dragon’s heart?’hnzPFm
hl3jZwzThe energy being released was extremely crude.Snsig
RKss3ZIf Felicia’s was like a finely carved sculpture, Ivar’s was like firewood chopped haphazardly with an axe.R1tqFd
w3q7gXEven so, the strange shape of that energy and the heat it emitted were enough to suggest it was something special.WQOl4P
m4IV‘All well and good, but it’s like giving pearls to a pig. With a user like that, there’s no way to grasp its true value without testing it directly.’kEnWHzU
kIakmEven the mightiest power is useless in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to wield it.Q4FSpV
dzAQSince Ivar could only release energy, nothing stood out beyond the heat it carried.ucurG6
novWhat would happen if that energy were properly refined through circulation and sword techniques?QwM
ovDLafWhile Lucian pondered, Ivar’s voice once again reached his ears.FYUYdI
5zKI“I’ve kept this hidden until now. The moment it became known, people without qualification and full of greed would flock to the sanctuary. We can’t allow the place where the dragon’s heart sleeps to be stained with blood and flesh, can we?”Rbjp35
bhE“T-then, why reveal it now, right here?”w1Z
TTl“Because a foreigner has challenged the position of chief.”HHvd
0SRaAt the word foreigner, the eyes of the tribe members immediately turned to Lucian. Ivar glared at him and said.LfFJ
mvFoIn“Following tradition, I granted him the right of succession. But is it truly right for someone from distant lands to rule over us? Is he really qualified? Should he even have been granted the right to challenge?”6iX
iY0k“……”Qcuvw3
YvbhNo one could answer Ivar’s questions. It was the first time a foreigner had challenged for the position of chief.FUVWL
63Pu5Before even judging whether it was right or wrong, there was simply no precedent.x5uUER
cwljd“I don’t know the answer either. That’s why I want to ask the heart of our great ancestor. Today, you will witness with your own eyes the dragon’s judgment. You will see who—between this foreigner and my sons—is more worthy of becoming chief!”s979L
5I44PAt Ivar’s powerful proclamation, the tribe members nodded in agreement.fWIq
6SkohwFIf the heart of the dragon truly possessed its own will, there could be no fairer judgment than that.dBT
F9bBut to Lucian, those words only prompted a mocking smile.nsJK
f4LN‘The dragon’s judgment, my ass. If you meet the conditions, you get the power—simple as that.’aHnBP
ElnyIvar’s intentions were obvious.Unpx
nMQgIY3He would use the opportunity to cover up the fact that he had touched the dragon’s heart and simultaneously sanctify himself and his bloodline.CQY3icl
E0Rm7NAnd if Lucian exploded and died, it would open the tribe’s eyes.smpMe
6FtxwOIf everything went as planned, he couldn’t ask for a better outcome.QtGrVu
pv0J9jHowever, Ivar was overlooking one crucial detail—the possibility that Lucian, even as a foreigner, would be acknowledged by the dragon.5tdMe2x
RY9ngWhen that man shined even more brightly than the chief’s sons—born of the steppes—Lucian was genuinely curious to see how that tyrant would react.LQVyw
xlya***aP9mZFB
0VgszXAfter finishing his speech, Ivar led his two sons and Lucian toward the tribe’s sanctuary.xrRt
TuucThe tribe members followed them in a crowd, like a flock of chicks.V5Y
HQGJudging by how they moved without any travel preparations, the sanctuary couldn’t be very far.aZz
XcWMAnd indeed, after climbing a few hills guided by Ivar, they arrived at the place.1bKq
VQvv39“We’re here.”Gk3
Bz7J7WD“…A hut?”ld2XhC5
77vyEV1At Ivar’s declaration, Lucian was left speechless.F6t
06VDZ5wThe place they called a sanctuary was nothing more than a shabby little hut.w1k
gjT3LIt was absurd enough that it was just a shack, but its condition was even more unbelievable.Yq9XA
GCsj0It looked so old that a simple push might cause it to collapse.5mfpk
IUjpSHowever, aside from Lucian’s group, no one seemed to find it strange; everyone maintained solemn expressions.4Uko5n
Y7lAW“Stop here. From this point on, only those who have been authorized may proceed.”93XT
Zb1wrdWith a solemn declaration, Ivar raised his hand to block the way. Then he pointed only to his two sons and to Lucian, signaling them to move forward.siZq3
aOELucian felt a strange discomfort at such reverence toward a miserable-looking hut, but he still stepped forward.RxJ3
DOPAWhoosh.OkCnm
PwbDUc“……!”wI9l8
O9cPhtvAt that moment, a light pressure, as if he had submerged underwater, pressed against Lucian’s body.UxaC
BHAFHe was surprised only for a moment, immediately understanding what it was.bSNA
Stam2‘Is this… residual mana?’HvEep
yo4NOfaA trace left behind temporarily when a massive amount of mana is released in combat.5xysSe
RzhgSimilar to embers that linger for a while after a campfire is extinguished.rqvh
AUmNormally, it disappears quickly, leaving only a faint sense of oddness.f3wIHkQ
JKI8sD9But the residue here showed no signs of dissipating and was so powerful it felt like actual pressure.IPUN1Wy
E0P‘And all this just from the heart? Not even the whole dragon—just the heart—and it still emits such tremendous energy.’2IEIQ
dKlLucian clicked his tongue unconsciously. At the same time, he understood why they had turned that hut into a sanctuary.iWH66
lgWucucNo matter how shabby it looked, getting close revealed such an overwhelming force that anyone would feel compelled to revere it.9zr
4AEt“Stop.”8n1
3ju6LWhen the three had advanced halfway, Ivar, standing at the hut’s entrance, spoke softly. It was the signal that they should enter one by one.Lmjjhgk
OuinpIvWithout asking who would go first, Ivar already seemed to have decided the order.E8gUm
4L3“Ainar.”k16488P
sffRf“Yes.”regVT
0vkxXLAinar, called by his father, resumed walking and entered the hut through the door Ivar personally opened for him.zNt046
RkBOO90Lucian crossed his arms and waited in silence.P93xj
U2FmpWhooosh.VLV36
V1LgLZG‘What is this?’JU76K4E
hiiAfter more than ten minutes, a gentle warmth tickled Lucian’s entire body.H3Gg9v
8PkemTAt the same time, the pressure in the air shifted slightly, like a wave.5Kf
6g5sPBwJust as he felt something had changed, the hut’s door opened.yBYeqC
KSTJ“Th-the blue flame! It’s the dragon’s power!”3CEEC
QisDb“The dragon has acknowledged Ainar!”uEG
0qR6LVeThe tribe members, watching from behind, shouted in surprise.V9Z
2GbzJust as they said, Ainar was wrapped in a mist shaped like blue flames—the same as what Ivar had shown before.GWalj3
eSjDFSeeing Ainar emerge with a somewhat tired expression, Ivar smiled faintly.LNIjE97
j57U2O“Well done.”h2NPk
jDxhDSAt his father’s praise, Ainar gave a slight nod and stepped away from the sanctuary.6xvVi
V793Despite having received the dragon’s heart’s power, he didn’t seem happy. Rather, he avoided Lucian’s gaze, as if he felt guilty.2dbZC9p
r3c‘What’s wrong with him?’Hk55
Dpop1P5Lucian felt curious but knew this wasn’t the time to ask questions.WSQ
RrdunuAs soon as Ainar stepped away, Ivar called the next name.n8leZ
Zo7I“Brunda.”MDZ1
CNTZ“Yes.”2PyNoD
Z5KBrunda stepped forward with a determined look. Perhaps he felt pressured having come after his older brother.lQpybp
vs4sHowever, it wasn’t long before Brunda also exited the hut with a confident expression, wrapped in the same blue flame mist.fMx
gS5F2I“Brunda also received the dragon’s power!”8TS3
Ny4aucC“They were both chosen!”rq2
LMmkThe tribe’s gazes now focused on the only one left Lucian. Two candidates born in the steppes had been accepted.lOD8
YAyT4What would happen with the one from distant lands?oxPLK
BwV“…Foreigner.”kxYws
hO3With a clearly reluctant tone, Ivar called Lucian. At such open hostility, Lucian chuckled mockingly and stepped forward.nPRHKvX
xF3J61When he reached the hut, Ivar whispered in his ear.rsiWuq4
L70otPa“There’s still time to give up and return to your homeland. A thief who tries to steal a treasure with an owner always ends up miserable.”UgU
RMU3h“We’ll see who the thief is, and who the real owner is.”ydI
uTslk6With a mysterious smile, Lucian brushed past Ivar and entered the hut.4yOBJdP
uMOdwHABut unlike the two sons, Lucian didn’t come out, no matter how much time passed.YYfOA
qrEAp2After a tense wait, a sudden explosion shook the hut.2SitQ8
AxfqS4With the crash, the ground trembled, and the shack jolted violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.HXE
eKbdYLAt the sight, Ivar gave a viscous smile and turned to the tribe.iT0
YIZhfs“See! The dragon’s wrath has fallen upon that foreigner who didn’t know his place…!”kKUJyZX
jesBoom!NCIaJ
rj6jBefore he could finish, an explosion erupted at the very center of the sanctuary that housed the dragon’s heart.ghjJ
LD3The hut—guardian of a thousand-year tradition—shattered, and from the wreckage emerged Lucian.mvLB3zo
Frf7wZbWreathed in colossal blue flames that seemed to reach the sky.JpUxoa
XA8XACjWith all eyes fixed on him, Lucian tilted his chin and said to Ivar.oRf
VeNWpO3“So what were you saying about the dragon’s wrath?”W6PRwrX
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