Dragonslayer’s Class Regression 239

Chapter 239

When Zeke arrived at the Four Seasons Castle, the inauguration ceremony had already ended.

He went up to Kali’s office in Summer Rock.

“Sister.”

As Zeke entered the office, Kali welcomed him warmly.

“Zeke, welcome.”

Kali offered him a seat and personally brewed tea for him.

Though it was fragrant tea, now was not the time to enjoy its aroma.

“What happened, Sister?”

After a long silence, Kali finally spoke to Zeke’s question.

“Abel received the Guardian Knight title.”

Hearing the news directly from Kali that he had received by telegraph made the situation feel more real.

“Suddenly receiving the Guardian Knight title. What scheme did Abel use?”

To Zeke’s question, Kali spoke while controlling her emotions as much as possible.

“Abel was promoted to Black Knight.”

“What?”

Zeke asked back in confusion at Kali’s words.

“Promoted to Black Knight… is that really true?”

Kali nodded.

“Yes, at the inauguration ceremony, he challenged Dirthan, the Chief of the Executioners, and defeated him in one strike. The Family Head also acknowledged his Black Knight promotion.”

“Dirthan?”

The executioners Leader Dirthan was a knight that Zeke knew.

In his previous life, after Arthur Draker died and Abel Draker became the family head, the Tourn family withdrew from the blood alliance and independently established their territory in Tempel where their main house was located.

It was decided after the Atlas Massacre.

Though the Tourn family was known for their strong bonds and it was thought they could withstand the Empire’s invasion, contrary to expectations, they quickly collapsed.

One of the reasons was that the Draker Pursuit Squad, composed of Tourn clan members, chose Draker over Tourn.

The Tourn family fell due to the executioners Squad’s rebellion within Tempel, and Reina Draker defected to the Empire’s side along with the remaining Tourn clan members.

She later became one of the Five Star Knights, known by the alias “Flash  Knight.”

Knowing the future from his previous life, Zeke found it suspicious that Abel specifically challenged Pursuit Squad Leader Dirthan to prove his Black Knight status.

‘I’m not sure if the Executioners Leader Dirthan is currently a traitor, or if he will betray later, but it seems Abel’s side used some kind of scheme.’

Zeke asked Kali.

“Did the Family Head really acknowledge Abel’s promotion to Black Knight?”

Kali nodded.

“Yes, otherwise he wouldn’t have given Abel the Guardian Knight title.”

Zeke thought of something after hearing Kali’s words.

‘Could Abel have received the baptism too?’

Knights who received baptism showed power exceeding Red Knights despite being Blue Knights.

By that principle, Abel, who was a Red Knight, could potentially show Black Knight level power through baptism.

‘Received the devil’s baptism to become a Black Knight? That would be too risky…’

But besides that, it was hard to find a reason for Abel’s sudden promotion to Black Knight.

Having been promoted to Black Knight himself, he knew well how difficult it was to overcome that wall.

The situation had developed differently from his expectations due to Abel suddenly receiving the Guardian Knight title.

After organizing his thoughts, Zeke asked Kali.

“Now that Abel has received the Guardian Knight title, is there a possibility he could push you aside and become the candidate for Family Head?”

Kali’s expression darkened at those words.

“Although Guardian Knights participate in the Great Council, their actual authority is lower compared to other council members. However, being both a Black Knight and Guardian Knight could have great influence. The symbolism that a Black Knight holds within the knight family of Draker is greater than anything else.”

Black Knights, called one-man armies, carried different weight in terms of their impact across the continent due to their superhuman abilities.

So there was a possibility that forces supporting Kali would gradually shift towards Abel, the Black Knight.

The moment that balance of power collapsed, the succession order for Family Head would surely be reversed.

‘The symbolism of a Black Knight. Would the balance be matched if I prove I’m a Black Knight here?’

However, even assuming Zeke revealed himself as a Black Knight and supported Kali, various problems could still arise.

Kali’s supporting forces could split between Kali and Zeke, potentially causing internal division.

Zeke and Kali silently drank tea for a long while, lost in thought.

After some time passed, Kali’s secretary carefully entered the office.

“The Family Head is calling for Sir Zeke Draker.”

It seemed the Family Head had learned of Zeke’s arrival at the Four Seasons Castle.

He stood up and said to Kali.

“I’ll go see the Family Head first. Let’s come up with countermeasures against Abel again.”

“Alright, understood. Helen will come once her mission is complete, so let’s put our heads together, the three of us.”

Zeke nodded, then left Kali’s office and headed to the Family Head’s office on the top floor of Summer Rock.

When he entered the office, the Family Head was already waiting while brewing tea.

“Zeke, welcome. The tea temperature is just perfect right now.”

Zeke felt a slight chill whenever he heard the Family Head’s friendly voice.

It was even more so because he couldn’t tell what schemes lay behind that smile.

When Zeke took his seat, the Family Head served him tea.

Zeke tilted his head as he smelled the tea’s aroma.

‘I’ve smelled this somewhere before.’

Then Arthur smiled and said.

“It’s tea sent from Ishtar along with this. Try it and see if it suits your taste.”

Arthur took out Ishtar’s dagger from his chest and placed it on the desk.

Zeke suddenly came to his senses upon seeing Ishtar’s dagger.

‘Come to think of it… it’s been almost 2 years.’

It was nearly the end of the 2-year grace period he had asked for regarding permission to discuss marriage with Yelin, the heir of Ishtar.

The Family Head savored Ishtar’s tea with an indifferent expression before speaking to Zeke.

“You must have heard about Abel.”

“Yes. I heard he was appointed as Guardian Knight.”

Seeing Zeke speak in a calm voice, the Family Head smiled and asked.

“So what is your choice?”

For a moment, Zeke didn’t understand what the Family Head meant.

“What choice do you mean?”

The Family Head answered as if it were obvious.

“I mean who will you choose between Kali and Abel.”

Zeke finally understood the Family Head’s intention.

‘Well, the Family Head doesn’t know what Abel will do in the future. If I didn’t know either, I would also be contemplating which choice to make between Sister Kali and Abel.’

Although Abel’s appointment as Guardian Knight happened just hours ago, many things were already stirring beneath the surface in the Draker family.

After pondering the Family Head’s words, Zeke spoke.

“I plan to stand with Sister Kali.”

The Family Head showed a surprised expression at Zeke’s words.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. I thought you would make contact with Abel’s side.”

“Is there a reason you thought that?”

The Family Head looked at Zeke and said.

“Zeke, because among my children, you resemble me the most. That’s what I would have done.”

Zeke’s expression subtly hardened at the Family Head’s words.

‘I resemble the Family Head the most?’

In his previous life, Zeke was treated like trash and abandoned.

As someone who knew Arthur’s true nature, every single one of his words felt detestable.

‘I can’t tell what scheme he’s plotting again.’

Zeke decided to go along with the Family Head’s words for now.

He bowed his head toward the Family Head and said.

“…I’m so honored that I momentarily forgot what to say. I apologize, Family Head.”

“HAHAHA! Zeke, you have a talent for pleasing me. Good. Well, your mind might change depending on the situation. Anyway, the reason I called you is to give you the reward for the mission I mentioned before.”

He handed Zeke a document that was placed beside him.

Zeke carefully received the document and read its contents.

‘This is?’

It was none other than the permission document for Zeke’s Advanced Knight examination.

Arthur looked at Zeke and said.

“You handled the Ghost Mansion’s case well. As expected, the newsletters made quite a fuss about it. Your name has become firmly established as the Knight of specter.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Moreover, I heard you passed the Trial of Struggle of the Tourn family.”

It seemed the Tourn family had sent news about the Trial of Struggle.

“I was lucky.”

“I think I would have been too. But reaching the 100th floor that even Rex couldn’t reach is still amazing. You can be proud of it.”

Arthur was highly praising Zeke.

“Gaining that much fame at your age is no easy feat. If you were older than Kali or Abel, you would surely have become the next Family Head.”

Zeke felt that Arthur was particularly revealing his inner thoughts a lot today.

‘Is even this a scheme?’

While Zeke was confused, Arthur continued.

“Since you’ve gained the Tourn family’s favor, you’ve already passed one test. To become an Advanced Knight, Zeke, you need to pass one more test.”

“May I ask what kind of test it is?”

Arthur shook his head.

“I can’t tell you what the test is yet. But I can tell you one thing. It will be a completely different kind of test from the usual Advanced Knight tests.”

Usually, the Draker Advanced Knight test is divided into three evaluations.

The first evaluates how much fame the candidate has built as a knight, the second whether they have the military power worthy of an Advanced Knight, and the third how faithfully they have carried out their duties as a Draker knight.

Since Zeke had only recently become an official knight, it seemed they were planning to set different standards equivalent to the regular test criteria, as he couldn’t be evaluated by the usual test standards.

Arthur looked at Zeke and said.

“There will be a notification about the test soon, so I hope you pass it well and become an Advanced Knight.”

“I will do my best not to disappoint your expectations, Family Head.”

Looking at that response, Arthur stared at Zeke quietly before speaking.

“By the way.”

In that moment, Zeke’s body stiffened.

He felt the office area come completely under Arthur’s control along with his words.

Zeke realized that even the slightest movement would cost him his life.

‘This… isn’t an Astral Sword. It’s something far superior.’

A realm where one could control targets with will alone within the domain they spread.

Zeke realized that Arthur Draker was no ordinary Black Knight.

‘Could it be that the Family Head… has reached the realm of Grand Master?’

While leisurely drinking tea and watching the frozen, immobile Zeke, Arthur spoke.

“With Abel, I understand since he has Ramon by his side. But Zeke, you make me curious in many ways.”

The Draker Family Head who knew everything had found something he didn’t know.

That something was Zeke Draker.

Arthur slowly got up from his seat and approached Zeke.

He stroked Zeke’s shoulder and said.

“Zeke, I respect your choice. If you chose Kali, that too is interesting. This father will happily await your growth.”

The moment his words ended, the domain’s pressure on Zeke was released.

Freed from the pressure, Zeke wiped his cold sweat and steadied his breathing.

Then with his head bowed, he said.

“…I will do my best to live up to your expectations, Family Head.”

Arthur smiled contentedly at those words.

“Good. You may go now.”

Zeke slowly got up and left the Family Head’s office.

As he left, Arthur’s smiling face instantly changed to a serious expression.

‘He walked out normally even after taking my energy head-on within the Absolute Domain? I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.’

Arthur smiled while twirling the dagger that Ishtar had sent along with the tea.

“I look forward to what’s to come.”

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