Dragonslayer’s Class Regression Chapter 81

Chapter 81

On the way back to the mansion after the preliminaries, Zeke’s mind was filled with thoughts about Helen.

‘Helen Draker participating in the martial arts tournament.’

Helen was Zeke’s older sister, only five years apart from him.

She too was eligible to participate in the martial arts tournament as it hadn’t been 5 years since she was promoted to Purple Knight.

However, Zeke, who remembered Helen from his past life, never thought she would enter the martial arts tournament.

‘The Steel Knight.’

After Kali Draker, the Guardian Knight, was killed by the Pirate King in the South Sea, the Draker family fell into chaos.

Until the current head Arthur Draker died and Abel became the head, the Draker family was split into two factions, with Helen Draker, the Steel Knight, standing at the center.

After Abel became the head, when the Draker family merged with the Empire, she organized a rebel force to carry on the will of the Drakers and fortified herself in the Troy Principality .

The Northern faction reached out to Helen Draker, offering to form an alliance to fight against the Empire, but she rejected their proposal.

She then conveyed her wish to remain as a pure Draker until the end. Eventually, Helen died fighting against the imperial forces led by Abel.

Zeke, who was carrying out missions on other battlefields, learned of Helen’s death much later.

‘Still, Helen was one of the better Drakers. Because she had the qualities of a true knight.’

Among the Drakers who sought continental power through all sorts of schemes and tricks, Helen was closer to being an orthodox knight.

That’s why it was hard to understand why Helen would participate in the Draker martial arts tournament where all kinds of plots prevailed.

‘Is there some reason?’

Like Zeke, she might have participated under Arthur’s orders. He felt he needed to learn more about Helen.

When they returned to the mansion, Catherine had arrived from Panstas and was waiting for them. She nodded after hearing Zeke’s words.

“Sir Zeke’s prediction was right.”

“Without Catherine’s help, we wouldn’t have noticed Jiemens’ shallow trick,”

Farrell said with a smile to Catherine.

“Fortunately, all three from our side have advanced to the main tournament.”

The Draker martial arts tournament was more advantageous the more people you had on your side. This was because events requiring cooperation between teammates could be adopted.

Then Catherine said with a smile.

“I found out about the first round event. This time it’s definitely accurate.”

Zeke’s group focused on Catherine’s words.

She slowly opened her mouth.

“The first round of the main tournament is running.”

At the mention of running as an evaluation event, Felix made an expression of disbelief.

“R-running? Can running be an event in a martial arts tournament?”

Then Farrell, who was next to him, said with a serious expression.

“Running. Actually, it’s one of the frequent events in the Draker martial arts tournament.”

Zeke nodded, recalling the Draker martial arts tournament manual and past events that Farrell had given him.

“The first round has been a running competition with about 64% probability.”

At those words, Felix made an even more incredulous expression.

“It seems strange that running is a major event, Master.”

Then Zeke shook his head.

“The running we’re talking about isn’t ordinary running, Felix.”

“What? How is running anything but just running?”

Farrell explained to Felix.

“It’s called Survival race, actually famous among the Draker side. Though I’m not from the academy, I heard academy graduates have all done it at least once.”

Zeke nodded.

“That’s right, Sir Farrell.”

Felix asked Zeke.

“Survival race? What makes it so famous?”

“Survival race is a race where you need to reach the finish line.”

“Isn’t that just regular running?”

Zeke shook his head.

“There’s one difference. All forms of interference with opponents are allowed during the race.”

At Zeke’s words, Felix’s jaw dropped.

He now understood why it was called Survival race.

“If, if anything is allowed…”

“Whether it’s ambush, poison, or outright fighting, it doesn’t matter. You just need to reach the destination within the time limit.”

Liam and Felix could understand why the Draker martial arts tournament was called a miniature version of power struggles.

If Survival race was indeed the first round event of the main tournament as they just heard, having more allies would not only give an advantage in the survival competition but also secure a better position in preparing for the second round of the main tournament.

Zeke said to Felix and Liam.

“The main tournament starts tomorrow. Take good care of your condition.”

Felix returned to his room like a zombie, while Liam went up to the training room saying he would train more.

Zeke returned to his room and organized his thoughts through meditation.

‘Looking back at my past life, Helen Draker couldn’t have been on the same boat as Abel. She was Sister Kali’s person after all.’

After Kali’s death, Helen inherited her forces and served as a guardian knight. Though uncertain now, she could tentatively be considered an enemy of Abel and the Empire.

‘I need to figure out what Helen Draker wants.’

* * *

WHOOSH!

Helen swung her sword over and over in the training room until her whole body was drenched in sweat. Then someone entered the training room.

“Helen.”

Helen lowered her sword and turned around. Kali Draker was standing at the door.

She lowered her sword and politely greeted Kali.

“Greetings to Kali Draker.”

Kali shook her head at Helen’s behavior.

“I told you to call me sister when we’re alone.”

Though she said this every time, Helen had never called her sister casually.

This was completely different from Zeke, who immediately called her sister when told to speak comfortably.

Unlike Kali, who looked like a ‘legendary Valkyrie’ with her long platinum blonde hair, Helen had a modest appearance with brown short-cut hair.

Kali asked Helen.

“What do you think after seeing Zeke in person?”

Helen gripped her sword tightly. Seeing this, Kali nodded.

“Zeke, that child has something that provokes competitive spirit. Makes you want to test his skills as a knight.”

Helen silently nodded at Kali’s words. ‘That thrust he showed in the preliminaries was amazing.’

Dragon slaying technique

Dragon Scale pierce.

Of course, Helen, being a Draker, knew this technique as well. But Zeke’s Dragon Scale pierce was somehow different.

‘Should I say it was more dragon-like. That thrust seemed like it could really kill a dragon.’

Helen had already been promoted to Blue Knight a year ago.

Though they were both Blue Knights, she thought she would have the upper hand over the young Zeke due to her greater experience.

But the moment she saw Zeke in person, Helen abandoned that thought.

‘He’s certainly not below my level.’

Kali approached Helen, who was lost in her thoughts, patted her shoulder and said,

“Zeke will be a great asset to our side. Helen, test him as much as you need until you can acknowledge him.”

Helen nodded at Kali’s words.

The family was soon to discuss the appointment of Abel’s guardian knight. The Drakers were changing rapidly day by day.

Being by Kali’s side, Helen could feel that even becoming a Blue Knight, there wasn’t much she could do by simply swinging a sword.

But she couldn’t stop wielding the sword.

She thought of Zeke as she swung her sword again.

‘Zeke, I look forward to seeing your skills.’

* * *

The first round of the main tournament was held in Marake City, not far from Atlas. As Catherine had informed, the first round event was Survival race.

Again, Gareth delivered the competition notice to the participants.

“Nothing special. Just reach the destination at the top of Atlas Mountain within 48 hours.”

After the announcement, Draker knights distributed one backpack and one dagger to each participant.

These were the only items allowed in this competition.

Zeke, Liam, and Felix stood at the starting line with their assigned backpacks.

Shortly after, when all participants were at the line, the judge raised his hand high and shouted.

“Competition start!”

The 48-hour countdown began.

About 100 participants started running toward Atlas Mountain.

Most people knew Survival race was the event, so they were prepared with routes to reach the summit.

Most moved with participants from the same faction.

Zeke said to Felix and Liam.

“Let’s move.”

Without hesitation, Zeke chose the most difficult path.

While Atlas Mountain itself was famous for its rough terrain, Zeke chose to climb up the steepest path.

Edward smirked watching Zeke’s group.

“Tsk tsk. Seems they don’t know what Survival race is.”

He leisurely opened the front pocket of his backpack.

Unlike other participants, he had a map in his pocket.

It was a map marking where all the traps were and where necessary items could be found.

He grinned looking at the map.

‘Go ahead and struggle, you fools.’

Edward started moving according to the route marked on the map, leading other participants who followed the Jiemens family.

* * *

“Liam, Felix. Take everything out of your backpacks.”

Zeke told Liam and Felix after climbing the mountain for a while.

The backpacks contained one bottle of water, dried food, and simple camping tools. Zeke tried a bit of the water and food.

[Small amount of red mushroom poison detected.]

[Due to Poison Immunity constitution effect, you are not affected by the poison.]

As he expected, the water and food were poisoned.

‘Not enough to kill, but would need a week of recovery if eaten.’

Even a Purple Knight would be helpless against poison.

Zeke took out Agamemnon’s Golden Mask from his inventory, kept it close to his chest while holding it, and used the purification skill.

[Poison is removed by the power of purification.]

While he couldn’t use the great purification power without wearing the mask, he could still use the purification skill.

After securing the purified water and food, Zeke checked the route using the map’s navigation function.

Then he examined the traces left on the ground.

‘Judging by the droppings and footprints, it should be over there.’

Zeke deliberately went deeper into the mountains.

Then he found a hidden cave.

He unhesitatingly sent Felix inside the cave.

“Eeek!”

Felix, who had gone inside, suddenly screamed and ran out.

“Grrrrowl!”

Soon a huge Grizzly Bear appeared from the cave.

While Felix fumbled with his dagger, Zeke threw his dagger and hit the Grizzly Bear precisely between its eyes.

THUD!

The instantly fallen bear shook the ground.

Up close, it was so large it felt like a small hill. Zeke pulled the dagger from between the bear’s eyes.

Then he said to Liam and Felix.

“Liam, hold that side. Felix, go gather fresh branches.

We’ll skin it and tan the hide.”

Zeke skillfully used the dagger to skin the bear.

Then he divided the bearskin into three parts, put them on poles, and started smoking them.

Felix, who was following instructions, asked Zeke.

“M-master. What are you doing?”

Zeke looked at Felix and said.

“Have you ever climbed to the top of Atlas Mountain?”

Liam and Felix shook their heads.

Zeke recalled his experience from his past life.

He had underestimated Atlas Mountain and climbed casually, nearly losing his hands and feet to frostbite.

‘I would have died helplessly without the healing skill.’

While the bottom of Atlas Mountain isn’t cold at all, the temperature drops dramatically as you go up.

Snow is always accumulated near the summit, and while most think they only need to prepare when they get near there, the cold hits before reaching the top.

Seeing there was no cold weather gear in the backpack, Zeke immediately hunted the bear to skin it and make winter gear.

‘We’d be in big trouble if we just climbed up.’

Moreover, ‘those things’ were up there on Atlas Mountain.

Zeke started tanning the smoked hide by applying bear grease.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry and apply it, Felix.”

The three sat in a row and tanned the bearskin.

* * *

Atlas Mountain was quite rough and high.

However, climbing the mountain itself wasn’t very difficult for trained knights.

Reina climbed the mountain along with participants following the Tourn family through a pre-prepared route.

When the cold weather was about to begin, they put on the winter clothes that had been prepared beforehand along the route and climbed up the mountain.

Even with such preparation, the group was momentarily startled when they suddenly encountered the snow field while climbing up the mountain.

Although they had heard about it, seeing it in person felt different.

The cold penetrated through their winter clothes. At that moment, something approached Reina’s group across the snow field.

“Is that…?”

Reina was surprised when she realized what it was.