The Dragon Slayer Who Regressed After 1,000 Years - Chapter 54

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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 After 1000 Years – Chapter 54
Alton was satisfied with nothing more than the answer that he had been displeased.
Nine times out of ten, it was a gratifying reply.
Only the reason behind it piqued his curiosity.
“Was there a reason you were displeased?”
“I can’t quite explain it well, but… the feeling simply wasn’t good. No matter how hostile dragons have been toward humans, they’re still living beings capable of discourse, aren’t they? They’re even regarded as the most powerful species on earth.”
“…….”
“They attacked first, so I had no choice, but… the fact that I killed such a supreme creature weighs on me.”
“Curious. A Dragon Slayer troubled by guilt.”
“To be honest, I harbor no particular ill will toward dragons. The world isn’t populated by humans alone, is it? I believe the world becomes richer when intelligent species capable of communication coexist in diversity. If they don’t harbor hostility toward mankind, couldn’t we live together?”
Alton nearly nodded in agreement.
But he restrained himself.
He could not reveal his hand now.
To conceal his true thoughts, Alton answered with deliberate distance.
“A romantic notion. But no dragon exists that favors mankind. To them, humans are merely an occasional delicacy.”
It was a lie, but it served as bait to test Cain.
A test to gauge where his true heart lay.
Yet the answer that came was beyond expectation.
“Not all humans are good people either, are they? The same must be true of dragons. There are good dragons and bad dragons. Fortunately, the one I caught happened to be the latter.”
That response was decisive.
Alton’s assessment of Cain soared in an instant.
‘I’ve only ever seen ignorant fools who reject dragons outright.’
Those shackled by prejudice exasperated him.
To his eyes, Cain appeared to be a truly awakened being.
‘If the Master saw this man, he would surely be pleased. I must absolutely bring him to our side.’
The fact that Cain had killed a dragon had long since been erased from Alton’s mind.
The guilt of slaying a mere eight-hundred-year-old young dragon could easily be overlooked.

* * *
Cain toured the interior of the Mansion under Valensius’s guidance.
‘I must have passed the test.’
He was certain after seeing Alton’s eyes change during the refreshment earlier.
The man would summon him soon.
His prediction proved accurate.
“Young master. The head of the household wishes to see you both.”
“Me and my teacher……?”
So it was coming.
Cain followed Valensius toward Alton’s Office.
Just as Valensius raised his hand to knock, a voice came from within.
“Enter.”
He lowered his hand and opened the door.
The two men stepped into the Office.
“Father, you called for us?”
“Sit. And please sit as well, Young Master Cain.”
Alton pulled his gaze from the stack of parchment and looked at the two men in turn.
“I heard there was a disturbance at the Knights Order yesterday. Tell me in detail.”
“Ah…… That matter, you see.”
Valensius glanced at Cain’s expression before laying out what had happened the day before.
“As a newcomer, I was assigned to the 3rd Division. The moment we arrived, a captain called the 3rd Division Captain made an unreasonable demand. He told me to visit each of the senior trainees one by one to introduce myself.”
“Wait. Who did what exactly?”
“Ah…… That is…….”
Alton’s brows knitted sharply, despite having received only a brief report.
As Valensius hesitated, Cain answered in his stead.
“A 3rd Division Captain named Grok Kus Almon, sir.”
“…….”
Though he did not show it before his son, Cain could read it clearly.
The arrow of rage had found its mark in Grok Kus Almon.
“……That wasn’t all. He even struck me from behind.”
At his son’s words, Alton’s brows twitched for a moment.
Once the kindling was added, his eyes blazed with fury.
“So you simply let him be?”
The answer came from Cain.
“No, sir. My disciple was struck down, so I couldn’t let it pass. I provoked him a bit, and he was the one who proposed a Duel.”
“Is that so? And the result?”
Cain smiled faintly.
“My master overwhelmed him completely.”
“Overwhelmed……? How considerable are his achievements…….”
“He was the same 7-Star as well.”
At Cain’s words, Alton’s expression grew notably grave.
If someone held the rank of captain, they would be a seasoned Sword Master at minimum — yet he had crushed such an opponent decisively.
An overwhelmingly decisive victory would be impossible unless they were facing an 8-Star.
‘His rank is the same 7-Star. Yet his actual strength must be beyond that.’
Alton cleared his throat and gestured to Valensius.
“Very well. You may leave now.”
“Yes. Shall we go, Master…….”
“No. Prince Cain, you will remain. I have pressing matters to discuss with you.”
“……?”
Valensius stood staring blankly, so Alton gave him a pointed look.
“I said, go.”
“Ah, yes.”
The moment the door closed, silence filled the Office.
Cain understood instinctively.
The question he had asked before was merely an opening; the real purpose began now.
‘He’s about to broach the main topic.’
It was Cain who broke the silence.
“Is there something you wished to discuss with me……?”
“What do you believe a Dragon to be?”
Cain paused as if collecting his thoughts, then spoke.
“As I mentioned before, a Dragon is a supremely unique existence. From birth, they accept Mana and effortlessly achieve the 9th Circle, which humans struggle desperately to reach. If there exists a perfect being created by God, it is the Dragon.”
At this unfaltering answer, Alton’s gaze shifted.
“In that case, would you walk with me for a moment?”
“Sir?”
“I grow weary confined to the house.”
“Ah, understood.”
Alton rose from his seat and led Cain out of the Mansion.
Cain, who had no idea what this was about, tilted his head in confusion.
During their walk, Alton said nothing at all.
After walking in silence for an hour, Alton finally spoke.
Alton opened his mouth.
“We must climb this mountain.”
“Ah…… yes.”
Cain followed without asking anything.
Who would dare question where the Empire’s second-highest authority was taking them on a walk? Yet Cain’s silence had another cause entirely.
‘He’s leading me to the Lair.’
There could be no other reason to climb this mountain.
All the questions about Dragons up until now had been for this moment.
‘He’s testing whether I’m someone worthy to meet the Dragon.’
Of course, they wouldn’t enter the actual den.
Perhaps he merely intended to bring Cain before the Dragon itself.
‘Or perhaps he means to introduce me to his liege. If so…….’
Cain glanced subtly at Beratus, who was in a spectral state.
Alton had not detected him, but Beratus followed quietly behind.
‘Beratus. You must stay here.’
Understanding the gesture, Beratus stopped in his tracks.
‘If he sees Beratus, it could be dangerous.’
A Dragon’s senses are incomparably sharper than a human’s.
If they detected a Dragon traveling alongside a human, they would surely grow suspicious of Cain.
Once that thought had settled, Alton came to a halt before a Cave.
“Enter here.”
“This place is……?”
“Don’t ask me anything.”
No matter how he looked at it, something was off.
But Cain entered without protest.
‘What kind of dragon is waiting for me?’
Though darkness swallowed everything, drawing up his Aura sharpened his vision.
Cain swallowed hard as his footsteps crunched across the gritty floor.
He didn’t know how far he’d have to walk, but he walked anyway.
Danger might have awaited him, yet he pressed on regardless.
Deeper in. And deeper still.
The passage stretched in a single line, so there was no risk of losing his way.
He was prepared not to flinch even if the dragon appeared without warning.
After all, no hunter is startled by the sight of his prey.
Yet his palms had grown clammy.
Before his Regression, he’d never set foot in this place.
That was when it happened.
Flash!
Suddenly, light blazed forth from the darkness so blindingly bright he couldn’t see.
Cain had instinctively stopped, squinting his eyes.
Whoosh—
The light vanished, and once again only absolute darkness enveloped everything around him.
[Turn back, human.]
The voice that suddenly filled his ears didn’t startle Cain.
But a chill ran down his spine like water.
It was as if the dragon’s will itself was touching him directly.
He stood motionless for a moment, then quietly turned away.
‘If it says go, then I go.’

* * *
Alton was pacing outside the Cave.
His face bore an unusual restlessness that lay thick upon his features.
‘I brought him on the master’s orders, but… will the master truly be pleased?’
What if the master found him disagreeable?
Cain would never emerge alive.
Alton’s gaze fixed on the dark mouth of the Cave.
‘Surely he won’t kill him?’
Whether Cain lived or died had nothing to do with Alton’s own safety.
Yet he couldn’t shake the discomfort gnawing at his chest.
Among all the masters he’d found for Valensius, this man was easily the finest.
‘If the master suddenly devoured him, what on earth would I tell Valensius…?’
That alone weighed on his mind.
The thought that Valensius might be disappointed.
But setting that aside, he personally found the man appealing.
For he had never met a human without prejudice against dragons.
‘It troubles me that he’s slain dragons, but… he says it was for humanity’s sake.’
Alton could accept that there were both good dragons and bad ones.
He could forgive the death of a dragon that threatened humans.
After all, the truly valuable dragons existed elsewhere.
‘Still… he won’t try to draw his sword against the master, will he?’
If he did, it would be suicide—yet Alton remained uneasy.
He couldn’t know what was happening inside.
Then.
“…He’s coming out?”
A sound echoed from within.
Looking toward the Cave, Cain emerged into view.
He regarded Alton with an expression of bewilderment.
“Duke Alton. What is this place…?”
“Before you ask, I have a question. What happened inside?”
“Light suddenly blazed forth, and then I heard a voice telling me to turn back. What exactly is this place?”
Alton drew upon the lie he’d prepared in advance.
“A magical Cave I discovered not long ago. It once offered me certain guidance… though it seems it had nothing for you.”
Leaving Cain tilting his head in confusion, Alton walked deeper into the Cave.
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go inside and return shortly.”
Alton followed the single passage that ran through the cavern, pressing inward.
After some distance, a familiar scent reached him.
The Purple-scaled Dragon emerged from the darkness.
The air grew heavy and oppressive; Alton’s breath caught in his throat.
He immediately dropped to one knee.
“I greet you, my Lord.”
[Is that the human who entered just now?]
“Yes, my Lord. As I mentioned before—the human who bears your scent. How did you find him upon meeting?”
Golden eyes glimmered in the darkness.
[A perfectly ordinary human. I sensed nothing unusual about him at all.]
Alton’s head snapped up.
“…What?”

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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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