Dragonslayer’s Class Regression Chapter 165

Chapter 165

At Zeke’s words, Jeffrik protested.

“Sir Zeke, you may not know this, but the Solma family’s trials are no joke. They push human mind and body to the extreme…”

Although complaining about family training intensity in front of Draker was like showing off wrinkles to a chrysalis, Zeke pretended not to notice.

“I see. Still, you couldn’t handle it and ran away, didn’t you?”

“That, that’s…”

Jeffrik was left speechless at Zeke’s words.

He didn’t expect such a direct rebuke.

Zeke said to Jeffrik.

“Jeffrik, if you want to break through that wall, you’ll have to surpass your limits. But it won’t be easy with your current mindset..”

Jeffrik let out a big sigh.

“You’re right, Sir Zeke. But… now I feel completely lost.”

Zeke clicked his tongue internally while looking at Jeffrik.

‘Still not beaten down enough.’

Zeke spoke to Jeffrik.

“Jeffrik, if you… truly wish to overcome your limits. I can help you. But every choice comes with responsibility.”

Jeffrik gulped at Zeke’s words.

“W-what kind of responsibility?”

“You’ll have to accept that your entire life could change.”

Jeffrik hesitated before nodding.

“If you’ll help me… I’ll follow you, Sir Zeke.”

“This might mean dissolving this party. Are you confident you won’t regret it?”

At those words, Jeffrik’s eyes wavered again.

His gaze turned toward the sleeping Arin.

The adventurer’s life of traveling joyfully here and there with loved ones.

He had to abandon this life and choose a completely new direction.

After contemplating, Jeffrik looked back at Zeke and nodded.

“I won’t regret it.”

Zeke grinned at Jeffrik’s choice.

“Good. Jeffrik Solma. Don’t forget that resolve.”

Zeke immediately switched to informal speech with Jeffrik.

Excluding Knight of Flash Reina Draker and Knight of Silence Bishop Castic, three of the Five-Star Knights had now joined under Zeke’s command.

The outline of the Black Sword Knights that Zeke had planned was gradually emerging.

* * *

After arriving in Panstas, Zeke’s group got off the train.

However, something felt strange about the atmosphere at Panstas Main Station.

“What’s this?”

Wondering, they went outside the station to find knights in golden armor lined up.

Jeffrik’s group gaped at the sight.

“T-the Golden Knights of Graham?”

Then the Golden Knights Commander approached Jeffrik’s group with a dignified appearance.

He gave a polite bow and spoke in a disciplined voice.

“We received word. We will safely escort you to House Graham.”

Jeffrik’s group wore dumbfounded expressions.

They marveled while touching the interior of the latest model carriage prepared by House Graham, with its finest leather and craftsman’s touches.

“Wow, how much would a carriage like this cost?”

“Don’t know for sure, but Jason, you definitely couldn’t afford it even if you sold your body for a hundred years.”

“Thanks for valuing me so highly, Claire.”

The group arrived at House Graham in a carriage that felt no vibration at all.

When they arrived at the mansion, someone was waiting for them in front.

None other than Duke Graham, his wife Duchess Catherine Graham, and Angelina Graham, famous as Central Continent’s greatest beauty.

Jeffrik’s group gaped seeing the Graham ducal family out to greet them.

“Hey, w-what do we do? What’s the proper etiquette for greeting nobles?”

“I-I don’t know. Ask Jeffrik, he’s royalty.”

Arin was completely frozen and silent, while only Jeffrik barely managed to keep his composure.

That’s when the Graham family approached and bowed their heads in greeting.

“UHHH?”

As they greeted first, Jeffrik’s group stiffly and hurriedly bowed in return.

Jason was so mesmerized by Angelina Graham’s beauty that he could barely manage a proper greeting.

Then Angelina Graham slowly approached them.

Jason couldn’t collect himself from the intoxicating fragrance emanating from her.

She spoke in a bright voice.

“Sir Zeke! You caught the evil sorcerer for me! I’m truly… touched.”

‘Sir Zeke?’

Jeffrik’s group looked back with confused expressions.

Not just Angelina’s gaze, but the entire Graham family was looking at Zeke with sparkling eyes.

Zeke himself turned away, uncomfortable with their gazes.

‘I had a bad feeling since the Golden Knights showed up.’

Zeke reluctantly bowed to Angelina and said.

“It was only natural to do so for Lady Angelina’s honor.”

Jeffrik’s group gaped as Zeke switched from his northern-accented common tongue to perfect noble pronunciation.

Duke Graham also approached Zeke, grabbed his hand and said.

“Sir Zeke, you are nothing less than our family’s benefactor!”

Jason, being the quickest-witted, was the first to realize Zeke’s identity.

“W-wait, if you’re Sir Zeke… N-no way… The youngest Blue-rank qualifier and youngest Valhalla graduate! The Maritime Knight who broke the curse on House Agamemnon and Lady Angelina!”

Jason exclaimed in shock.

“Zeke Draker!”

At those words, Jeffrik, Arin, and Claire looked at Jason with disbelieving expressions. But Zeke was wearing an embarrassed look.

Jeffrik was the most surprised by this reaction.

He stared at Zeke with a pale face.

‘W-what have I been saying all this time?.’

* * *

Jeffrik’s group was invited as honored guests to dine at House Graham.

After changing clothes in their individual rooms each as large as an inn floor, they gathered in Jeffrik’s room.

Jeffrik was nearly collapsed, looking almost like a zombie.

Jason, next to him, rolled on the floor laughing.

“Hahaha! You bragged about Solma family’s training being tough to a pureblood awakened Draker? Hahaha!”

No matter how harsh the Solma family’s training and competition was, it couldn’t compare to House Draker.

Having said such things in front of Zeke Draker, called the continent’s greatest genius, Jeffrik wanted to crawl into a mouse hole.

With his soul departed, Jeffrik spoke in a crawling voice to his companions.

“This must be my limit. I’m going to commit suicide. It’s been fun everyone, goodbye.”

Then someone knocked.

A servant entered and delivered the message that Zeke was calling them.

Jeffrik tensed up and suddenly straightened his collapsed body, then dragged his companions to Zeke’s room.

Zeke was in a room much larger and more luxurious than theirs.

He was wearing a Draker uniform and gloves symbolizing his pureblood awakened status.

Jeffrik’s group gulped at the dignity emanating from Zeke.

Zeke smiled seeing them.

“I called you for some tea before the banquet. Please sit here.”

Jeffrik’s group carefully sat where Zeke indicated.

Even Jason and Claire who had mocked Jeffrik became nervous and just gulped in front of Zeke.

Zeke slowly spoke.

“I invited you all here to make a proposal.”

The group looked at him with surprised expressions.

“Jeffrik has already agreed to join me. So after consideration, I wanted to make a proposal to all of you.”

Jason asked Zeke with a surprised expression.

“T-to all of us?”

“Yes. After seeing your abilities in this mission, I thought it would be a waste to leave you as mere adventurers. How would you like to join and work with the knight order I’ve created?”

As soon as Zeke finished speaking, he handed them prepared contracts.

Jeffrik’s group nearly spat out their tea checking the contract terms.

“S-Sir Zeke. Isn’t there a mistake in the units here?”

“No, there isn’t. Well, I could lower it if you prefer.”

“N-no! This is an honor, Sir Zeke! I pledge my loyalty! Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!”

Jason signed the contract immediately without looking further.

Claire followed suit and signed as well.

Only Arin hesitated and asked Zeke.

“S-Sir Zeke. What would I do if I join the knight order?”

“A knight order doesn’t only have knights. Mages play quite significant roles in actual combat. You’ll learn various things for efficient combat while coordinating with other knights. There’s also support for circle rank advancement for this.”

Hearing Zeke’s explanation, Arin’s eyes sparkled at the mention of advancement support and signed the contract.

Then Jeffrik raised his hand.

“Sir Zeke, is there no contract for me?”

Zeke nodded.

“Good question, Jeffrik. You’re my apprentice knight so you don’t need a contract. Just work hard at what you’re told.”

Jeffrik squeezed his eyes shut at Zeke’s words.

After receiving all the contracts, Zeke told Jeffrik’s group the future plans.

“Good. Once Dusk’s interrogation is finished, we’ll go to Agamemnon Castle in Mycenae. There you’ll first receive training from the Rose Knights, then secondly work with the Black Sword Knights.”

Jeffrik’s group tensed at Zeke’s words.

“No need to worry too much. But you’re no longer adventurers now, so strive to qualify as members of the knight order.”

And so Jeffrik’s group, now members of the Black Sword Knights, smiled brightly at the enormous contract payment, unable to predict the terrible future ahead.

* * *

“AAAAARGH!”

Dusk’s screams echoed from somewhere underground in House Graham.

Though House Graham had interrogators, they couldn’t match Zeke’s interrogation techniques.

Through holy fire, lightning skills, and light magic, Zeke thoroughly squeezed Dusk’s body and soul, intensively questioning him about the Abyss and Dario Tortolino.

And he was able to discover shocking information.

“Dario Tortolino is one of the Nostra Family’s bosses?”

The Nostra Family was a massive mafia organization spread throughout the Central Continent, centered on the Empire.

The Nostra Family had continued its history since the Holy Empire era. As such, the organization’s genealogy was complex, with many related members.

While Dario Tortolino outwardly pretended to be an ordinary businessman as the Steel King, in reality he had been living under a cover identity for the Nostra Family.

Zeke, who had been a hitman and executive of the Mekein Cartel that once shook the Southern Continent, was well aware of how large the Nostra Family was.

The reason Don Juan had to stay only in the Southern Continent was because of the mafia organizations positioned in the Central Continent, including the Nostra Family.

Because they had traditions and organizational management skills that the cartel didn’t possess, they weren’t very visible on the surface, and it was difficult to grasp their overall scale.

Zeke asked Dusk.

“Is the Nostra Family connected to the Abyss?”

Then Dusk, bleeding from his mouth, said.

“I-I told you already. I’m just an outsourced worker. D-Dario was treated like a VVIP because he had so many requests. They even gave him discounts. the Abyss takes clients like this and introduces them to outsourced workers like me.”

“What kind of requests did Dario usually make? Were there many personal curses like Angelina’s?”

Dusk shook his head.

“N-No. Usually, most requests were to curse the leaders of competing companies to prevent them from entering business bids.”

“Who requested the curse on Salmak?”

“I-I told you already. That parasite was distributed by the Abyss, so other sorcerers besides me have it too. How could I have cursed Salmak? Please believe me!”

Dusk trembled as he insisted on his innocence.

Zeke used his Dragon Eye to examine Dusk’s pupils and expressions more minutely to judge the truth.

‘It seems he’s not involved with Salmak.’

Zeke tied Dusk up again and left the prison.

If Dario, who was directly connected to the Abyss, was from the Nostra Family, the situation seemed like it would become complicated.

‘No, if it’s the mafia, there might actually be an opening to dig into.’

Draker Official Knights have their own investigation rights.

If he proceeded as if he naturally caught onto Dario while investigating mafia crimes, it would be possible to handle things openly.

“I should look for cases among Draker’s requests that might be related to that family.”

Although Zeke wasn’t currently affiliated with any knight order, he would receive a warning after the year-end evaluation if he didn’t accumulate achievements.

Since accumulated warnings could lead to the revocation of his official knight status, he needed to find cases and complete missions.

Zeke planned to dig into information about the Abyss along with the mafia investigation.

‘Dario Tortolino. You’d better be prepared. I’m going to uncover every detail about your relationship with the abyss.’