The Dragon Slayer Who Regressed After 1,000 Years - Chapter 33

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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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The Dragon Slayer Returns After 1000 Years – Episode 33
Cain looked down at the back of Valensious’s head and smiled.
He had to suppress the laughter threatening to spill out.
Everything was unfolding exactly as planned.
‘Become his teacher?’
There was no better position from which to infiltrate the Empire.
More than that, it was a golden opportunity to forge a close relationship with Alton Drake.
He was still considering what to say when Valensious spoke first.
“I understand it sounds absurd. But I wish to learn far more from you, Prince Cain.”
“What could I possibly teach you…….”
“You’ve reached the rank of Sword Master while barely past your youthful years. Beyond that, the teachings and insights you’ve shown recently surpass any sword instructor I’ve encountered. There’s more than enough for me to learn.”
“But could you truly follow someone as your teacher when we’re of a similar age and I’m still so inexperienced?”
“You healed my body, sir. That alone is enough for me to trust and follow you.”
Desperation threaded through his voice.
Though Cain had already made his decision, he prolonged the moment by feigning deliberation.
“Please. Will you become my teacher?”
“Mm…….”
The longer Cain delayed his answer, the more keenly Valensious burned with anticipation.
“Very well. But there are three conditions.”
“I’m listening.”
“You must do whatever I ask of you.”
“Whatever……?”
“My training is quite rigorous. You may well regret becoming my disciple. In exchange, I can make you grow faster than anyone else. That much I promise you.”
“Understood. I’m prepared.”
“Second, once a teacher, always a teacher. You cannot quit midway.”
“That goes without saying.”
“And finally, once I’m your teacher, I’ll speak to you without formal speech. You’ll have to accept that.”
“That’s no problem either.”
He’d already knelt before someone his own age, begging them to be his teacher.
Dropping formality was a small price.
“Then I accept.”
“Really? Thank you…….”
“Stand up, Valensious.”
Cain’s gaze had grown cold.
“From now on, I’m your teacher. Training begins tomorrow morning, so prepare yourself.”
“Y…… yes.”
“Short answers. Where’d you put the word ‘teacher’?”
“Y…… yes, t…… teacher.”
Valensious was too disoriented by the sudden shift in attitude to grasp what was happening.

* * *
Valensious had met with numerous sword instructors over the years.
―Hold the blade straight and follow its tip with your eyes. Yes, exactly. Excellent work.
―Your stance is slightly off. Allow me to show you, young master.
―You’re slow now, but someday you’ll earn renown as a great swordsman.
They spared no praise for even minor movements, and all addressed him as “young master.”
No one had ever spoken to him harshly.
The Drake name saw to that—no one dared open their mouth carelessly in its shadow.
But this teacher was different.
“Your stance is wrong. Spread your legs to shoulder width, tsk!”
The youngest instructor he’d ever faced, and yet entirely unguarded in his casual speech.
Of course, having chosen him as a teacher, Valensious didn’t truly mind—yet sometimes he wondered.
Had his teacher forgotten that he was the eldest son of the Drake ducal house?
“Hey. Pay attention. Wrong again?”
“I…… I apologize.”
“If that’s all you’ve got, quit. I’ll give up too.”
Valensious was reeling from this starkly different demeanor.
The moment the word “quit” left Cain’s lips, panic seized him.
“W…… what are you saying, sir! I can do this. So please don’t speak of giving up…….”
“Where’d the word ‘teacher’ go?”
“I’m… I’m terribly sorry. I was just so startled…”
“Spare me the excuses. If you’re going to do this, show me with action.”
Valensious nodded and hurriedly straightened his posture.
Cain’s demeanor had shifted so starkly that he seemed like a different person from yesterday.
Cain studied Valensious’s bewildered expression with an unflinching gaze.
“Your face looks troubled. Having second thoughts already? If you’re that weak-willed, tell me now. You’re not worth my time.”
“No, sir. I can do this.”
“What’s that buzzing noise? I can’t hear you.”
“No, sir!! I can do this!!”
When training ended, Valensious dragged himself back to his room and collapsed onto the bed.
He’d lost count of how many times he’d been scolded that day.
Harsh didn’t begin to describe it.
Mentally, especially.

* * *
Cain trained Valensious with genuine intent.
‘Mere pretense won’t cut it. I have to show results.’
He’d corrected the Mana Circuit, but that alone wasn’t enough.
Alton Drake likely wanted clear, tangible growth in his son.
“Your stance collapsed again. How many times must I tell you—you can’t accept mana with posture like that?”
“I’m… I’m sorry, master.”
It was galling enough to show deference to a master younger than himself, let alone endure such harsh criticism.
Anyone in his position would’ve felt ready to burst with resentment.
‘But what can I do? He’s my master.’
To grow stronger, one had to overcome every obstacle and survive.
That was Cain’s principle.
Partway through training, Cain sensed a presence entering the Training Ground.
He turned to find Dmitri standing with eyes wide, gaze flickering between the two of them.
“So the rumors were true—that His Highness Cain is teaching His Highness Alton?”
“Welcome, Dmitri.”
Rumors must have been circulating.
Even though they trained away from prying eyes, showing up daily made it difficult to remain inconspicuous.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“We’ve become master and student.”
“Pardon?”
Dmitri’s pupils dilated.
He’d assumed they were peers building rapport and naturally teaching one another.
‘Master and student…?’
He hadn’t expected such a formal bond to form.
“How did…?”
“It simply turned out this way.”
Cain offered only that explanation before turning his attention back to Valensious.
There was no need for further words.
“Who told you to stop?”
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
Valensious was being scolded yet again today.
Dmitri watched their training in silence for a while longer, then quietly turned to leave.
At that moment, Cain called him back.
“Dmitri. Since you’re here, I’d like to ask you something.”
“Speak freely, Your Highness.”
“I’ve heard that the Knight Order’s primary duties include not only Dragon Slaying but Monster Subjugation as well.”
“That’s correct. We’ve received several requests just today.”
“I’d like to undertake one of them.”
“Pardon?”
As custodians of the kingdom’s security, the Knight Order necessarily engaged in Monster Subjugation.
But such operations weren’t typically entrusted to a single person.
They were too difficult—they required the coordinated efforts of numerous knights.
“Alone…? You mean to undertake it by yourself?”
“Strictly speaking, it would be two of us. Valensious will accompany me as part of his training.”
“I see.”
Though two people venturing out seemed reckless, Dmitri made no move to stop them.
Cain was a Sword Master, after all.
“Understood. Shall I show the list to you, sir?”
“Thank you.”

* * *
Sand trickled through the hourglass.
Alton’s gaze followed its descent, moving with languid precision.
‘Why haven’t I heard anything?’
Alton was growing anxious.
Nearly ten days had passed since he’d sent his son with the envoy, yet still no word had come.
Of course, the boy was a grown man now and surely capable of managing himself—but a father could not help but worry.
‘If only I could reach out to him.’
Alton’s hand drifted toward the Crystal Orb, then stopped short.
The Crystal Orb he’d given his son was a communication device for reports only.
Unless Valensious initiated contact first, there was no way for him to reach out.
It was standard issue for all his spies, of course, but at times like these the restriction felt unbearably inconvenient.
‘Has something gone wrong?’
He’d given explicit orders to report once every three days.
The fact that no word had come yet could only mean something had happened.
Just as his anxiety reached its peak.
The Crystal Orb flickered to life, illuminating the dark room with sudden brilliance.
Color returned to Alton’s face—but only for a moment.
The mana pattern told him the caller was not his son.
—Lord Drake. I trust you’ve been well.
The voice belonged to Ronan, Duke of Valerian.
Another spy Alton had planted in the Kingdom of Asel.
A man of consequence, watching the kingdom from his position as Prime Minister.
Alton seized the opening as though fortune had smiled upon him.
“And you, Duke Valerian? Have you been well?”
—But of course. Thanks to the Empire’s glory, I live more comfortably than most. I’m forever grateful, ha.
An Asel Prime Minister praising the Empire?
It was the sort of thing that would make anyone’s skin crawl.
Alton’s voice dropped lower.
“Mind your words. Should anyone overhear this conversation, it won’t be merely your head that rolls.”
—Have no fear. I confirmed there wasn’t a soul nearby before I called.
Alton disapproved of Ronan’s casual demeanor, yet he couldn’t deny relief at hearing from him at all.
“Your timing is welcome. I had intended to question you about something.”
—About me, sir?
“A matter concerning my son.”
—How fortuitous. That’s precisely why I’m contacting you.
Alton’s brow furrowed.
“Has something befallen Valensious?”
—Have you not heard?
“Heard what?”
—Your son has been training here in the kingdom.
Training?
Alton failed to see why that would be a problem.
“The Knight Order trains its members, naturally. I placed him there precisely to learn what he could—to glean whatever knowledge might prove useful. There’s no shame in grasping at any straw available.”
—I’m aware he’s been working toward Aura Awakening. But did you know your son has taken on a master?
“A master…?”
He’d simply ordered the boy to play spy for a few months, watching the movements of Asel’s Knight Order.
The training was meant as a secondary pursuit, a means of seizing whatever opportunity came for achieving Aura Awakening.
Nothing more.
‘Valensious found himself a master?’
Try as he might to recall, Alton had no memory of ever commanding his son to seek out a teacher and study earnestly.
The boy had never even taken an instructor in swordsmanship as a master before this.
Which made Alton’s shock all the greater.
—The palace is already buzzing with rumors. Word is your son has found himself a master.
“Who on earth could he have chosen as his master?”
—I am Cain Asel.
The moment Alton heard that name, his expression hardened.
‘A target he was supposed to be monitoring… taken as a master? And without any report? On his own authority?’
Why in blazes?
He asked for an explanation, but Ronan didn’t know that part either.
—I merely wished to inform you in case you were unaware, sir. Should I pass word to the young master to contact you?
“……When the time comes, he’ll reach out. If anything else seems off going forward…….”
Alton caught himself mid-sentence.
“……No. Tell him to contact me at once.”
—Understood.
The connection severed.
Alton remained motionless before the Crystal Orb.
How long had he stood there?
Light bloomed in the Crystal Orb once more.
This time it was his son.
—I apologize, Father. My report was delayed…….
“This isn’t about a report.”
Alton’s voice turned glacial.
“I hear you’ve taken Cain Asel as your master.”
—…….
“The rumors have spread all the way to court. Even to the ears of Duke Ronan.”
—That’s…….
“What were you thinking?”
Alton paused to steady his breathing before speaking.
“Did you approach him deliberately to extract information?”

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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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