The Dragon Slayer Who Regressed After 1,000 Years - Chapter 13
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Dragon Slayer: Regression — Episode 13
Drake House?
A thousand years ago.
The factions that followed dragons had not yet revealed themselves to the world.
They hid in the shadows, growing their power quietly like cancer cells spreading through a body.
But eventually they surfaced, and they became known as the Eight Houses.
Valerian, Albion, Lunaris, Cerulan, Verdant, Helios, Antonio, and Ragnar.
These eight houses had been committing acts of betrayal against humanity.
That was what he’d believed.
‘Drake House was among the Eight? From this era?’
Drake House was a renowned family of the Empire, but he’d thought them unrelated to the dragon-worshipping factions.
Their name didn’t even appear on the list of the Eight Houses.
‘So they’ve been building power alongside the Eight Houses from a thousand years ago? Simply keeping themselves hidden?’
It was fortunate that he’d destroyed Ragnar House — otherwise, they might have become a Ninth House.
No, even so, they would likely still be known as only Eight.
With Drake House conspicuously absent from the roster.
‘They were hiding thoroughly. In the shadow of the Empire.’
That’s why he hadn’t seen the betrayal coming when Valencius Drake struck.
How could he have imagined that the man called a 9th Circle Dragon Slayer was a traitor?
“This headache is throbbing. Which of the Eight Houses you mentioned has the greatest influence?”
“Naturally, Drake House. The family head, Alton Drake, effectively holds all authority.”
He knew the name Alton Drake — he’d heard it before the Regression.
An 8th Circle Grand Sword Master and one of the most formidable masters in the Empire.
To think such a man was the leader of the dragon-worshipping faction.
“Then the one who ordered Valter’s death was also…?”
“Yes. Alton Drake.”
“Hah.”
Cain let out a hollow laugh despite himself.
He’d been betrayed before the Regression, and here he was again after it.
‘Drake House was the head of the betrayal faction.’
A presence that had put other houses forward while remaining perfectly hidden itself.
A supreme authority that controlled everything from behind the scenes, wearing the mask of Dragon Slayer.
That was Drake House of the Crescent Empire.
“To deceive humanity in such a manner… We can’t let this stand. Absolutely not.”
Separate from Cain, surprise was also written across Valter’s face.
“So many houses follow dragons….”
He’d been shocked when he first learned that his own house, Ragnar, followed the Red Dragon, but now he was taking in information far more devastating.
“Tell me everything you know about the Eight Houses.”
Lorenzo, whose mind had been completely seized, was nothing more than a puppet.
Information so classified that the Eight Houses would have been appalled leaked from his lips without resistance.
Yet to Cain, none of it was particularly new.
‘It’s all information I already knew.’
Still, it wasn’t without value to cross-reference current intelligence with his memories.
Above all, he’d now confirmed that Drake House was the true power behind the betrayal.
‘I must destroy Drake House. Settle the score for being cut down in my past life.’
For that, Valter’s role here would be crucial.
Where could he find a better bait or shield to use?
Unaware of Cain’s pointed gaze, Valter held his head in his hands.
The information had been too shocking, leaving him disoriented.
“Is there anything else about the houses you know?”
“That’s all I’m aware of.”
“Then let’s talk about dragons now.”
Cain knew dragons better than anyone, but at this point in time, there was far more he didn’t know.
His mother hadn’t yet passed — he was just a foolish royal living luxuriously in the palace.
‘I learned about dragons only after that.’
Particularly, he couldn’t locate Lair, and this question was asked with that in mind.
Those who maintained close contact with dragons should know Lair’s whereabouts.
But.
“I’ve never met a dragon directly, so I don’t know the location.”
“You don’t know even one place?”
“That’s right. Apart from Drake, I know no one else.”
The situation had grown complicated, yet not without its gains.
“I’ll have to ask Drake directly.”
Alton Drake.
If he could extract information from him, that would suffice.
* * *
Alton was waiting.
For the Crystal Orb’s light to glow.
For word from Lorenzo Antonio.
Fortunately, his wish came to pass quickly enough.
―Duke Drake.
“Duke Antonio. How did it go? Did you handle it?”
There was no subject, but Lorenzo’s response came at once.
―I couldn’t kill him.
“……?”
―Instead, I captured him alive.
‘So he took him as a hostage?’
This was actually the better outcome.
When an Aura reached 5th Circle, subduing him was harder than killing him.
Calming a raging bull was never simple work.
“You’re certain?”
―Yes. I have him secured completely.
“A 6th Circle knight, they said? Clearly a man of considerable skill. What is your son’s name?”
―Dario Antonio.
“I’ll remember it.”
Alton had anticipated it.
By this point, Lorenzo would surely begin flattering him with honeyed words.
But.
―…….
“……?”
Lorenzo offered no further response.
Not even a word of thanks—that common courtesy.
In the moment Alton sensed something amiss,
―I had a question for you, Duke Drake.
“Speak.”
―Where is Camiloas’s Lair located?
“……?”
Why ask that out of nowhere?
Alton pressed him directly.
The answer that came made him nod slowly.
―I thought it might be better to present this man as a tribute directly to Camiloas. It would surely please him far more.
“Hmm, yes, you’re right about that.”
The traitor who killed the Blue Dragon would naturally wish to devour him alive.
“I’ll send the coordinates through the Crystal Orb. Do as you see fit.”
―Understood.
As Lorenzo cut the connection after receiving only the coordinates, Alton could not shake an odd feeling.
* * *
‘Everything went according to plan.’
Cain smiled as he confirmed the coordinates Alton had sent.
‘So Camiloas’s Lair was here all along.’
He’d made the right call asking.
It differed from the location he remembered before the Regression.
‘Camiloas must have the artifact with him.’
When he’d killed Camiloas in the past, there’d been no artifact.
Rather, Lord Arcadion had been awake at the time.
‘He took everything with him, so there was nothing left for me to steal.’
Yet finding three artifacts amid all that had been fortune itself.
Cain alone had discovered the location of artifacts even the Lord did not know.
‘Now that I know the location, I’ll find Camiloas. Go and steal the artifact.’
A plan was formed, but it wouldn’t be as simple as it sounded.
Camiloas was no ordinary dragon like Bernatus.
‘True to his Red Dragon bloodline—brutal, arrogant, and deeply suspicious.’
Having faced him before, Cain knew his nature well enough.
So there was no lack of confidence in handling him.
But it was only Cain’s assessment, after all.
“S-surely you’re not planning to go to the Dragon’s Lair?”
“Why not?”
“This will end badly!”
For Valter, standing on the sidelines as an observer, it was enough to make his blood run cold.
“Do you have a death wish?”
“No.”
“Then why…… Well, it’s none of my concern anyway.”
Valter waved his hand and began edging away discreetly.
“You’re coming with me.”
One word from Cain stopped him in his tracks.
“Why me?”
“Don’t ask questions.”
Cain continued to evade the answer.
Would bait thank you for telling it that it was bait?
Instead, there was a more effective means of persuasion.
“You want to end up like that?”
Where Cain pointed, the Antonio family stood.
Staring blankly into empty air with expressions like a screw had come loose in their heads, standing like puppets—the sight of them made Valter’s skin crawl without quite knowing why.
“What do you say? If you won’t listen, should I send you over to join them?”
“…When do we depart? Let’s go.”
Valter wiped the sweat from his brow and hurried ahead as if fleeing.
* * *
The Antonio Dukedom lay in the outer reaches of the Belion Kingdom.
Bordering the hostile Asel Kingdom, it had been positioned as a strategic stronghold for defense.
Yet Camiloas’s Lair was hidden somewhere between the Mountain Range that cut across that border?
Even the Duke of Antonio himself, who lived nearby, did not know this fact.
Well, the man in question showed no sign of awareness whatsoever.
‘How on earth can he turn people into puppets? Without even a hallucinogen?’
As Valter followed Cain, he found himself plagued by doubt.
Whatever magic he’d used, hadn’t it made both Lorenzo and Dario spill everything?
‘Like with the assassin too… What method did he use? I have no idea.’
He tilted his head in confusion, but Valter had no way of knowing about 9th Circle Mind Control Magic, called the pinnacle of sorcery.
What truly remained a mystery was Cain’s real purpose.
Cain’s identity as a master swordsman strong enough to pierce and kill a dragon—that much Valter had seen firsthand—but his intentions?
‘I have no clue. Why does he keep me around… and why does he keep saving me….’
Saved from a dragon, saved from an assassin, and now dragged along like a servant.
Valter burned with curiosity about what lay behind Cain’s actions.
Of course, Cain could never tell him.
‘Here it is. Camiloas’s domain.’
Though he’d seen it only once, Cain had committed the coordinates reflected in the Crystal Orb to perfect memory.
Since it was not far from the Antonio Dukedom, two days’ travel would suffice.
“Lead the way.”
At Cain’s command, the Antonio family set foot into the dragon’s domain.
And immediately—
Shriek!
Wyverns descended from the sky, blocking their path.
Not just ahead, but from behind as well, they descended thickly, cutting off any retreat.
Even Cain’s group, still outside the domain, was completely surrounded.
Hissss!
The wyverns merely glared, as if they had no intention of killing.
Then a voice rang out from somewhere.
[Four humans venturing into this desolate place. Fortune smiles upon me today.]
It was a voice he had heard once before, in his previous life.
[Wait. I shall fetch them myself.]
A moment later, an enormous shadow blotted out the sky.
Thud.
A massive form descended with deliberate slowness, scales the color of blood.
The three-thousand-year-old Red Dragon surveyed its prey with arrogant eyes.
[That one looks quite appetizing… hmm?]
Orange eyes fixed upon Cain.
[You… what are you?]
Camiloas’s voice trembled.
[Why do you possess the Seer’s Artifact?]
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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