The Dragon Slayer Who Regressed After 1,000 Years - Chapter 56

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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 a Thousand Years – Episode 56
Grokus’s face twitched.
Humiliation flooded through him.
But there was no room for counterattack.
His wrist had been severed and one knee shattered.
If he didn’t reach a mage soon for treatment, he might become crippled.
Of course, at the moment his greater concern was whether he’d live to see that day.
“You’ve gone quiet. Should I take that as a request to die?”
“I—I’ve lost…….”
He admitted defeat.
Beaten by a recruit who’d only just arrived.
Not once, but twice over.
Grokus’s pride lay in tatters, but at least his life remained intact.
Cain had mercifully lowered his Sword Force.
“There’s no need to wield a blade against an opponent who’s acknowledged defeat.”
…….
“Good. I’ll spare you. But know this—you now owe me your life.”
Grokus’s brows trembled.
It felt as though his pride was being torn to shreds.
“So don’t waste the life I’ve given you on foolish pursuits. Use it properly. However.”
Cain’s eyes grew sharp as steel.
“If you come looking for me again, I won’t end it here. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes, I understand…….”
Leaving Grokus behind, Cain turned toward the forest.
His piercing gaze went unnoticed.

* * *
Once he’d put sufficient distance between himself and Grokus, Cain spoke.
“Beratus.”
[Yes, Seer.]
“Plant a Mana Fragment in that man’s body.”
[Will you add him to the tracking list like Walter?]
“Yes. Something tells me he’ll be back.”
Having lived for a thousand years, Cain had witnessed every type of human nature.
Those who accepted defeat, those who harbored resentment and honed their blades in secret, those who never stopped to examine themselves.
Among them were men like Grokus—ones driven mad by vengeance, attacking despite knowing they stood no chance.
‘Such men never learn, no matter how many times you strike them down.’
Even if they begged for their lives until the moment of death, the instant circumstances improved they would strike from behind.
Sparing them only invited future trouble.
‘But it’s wasteful to simply kill him. Better to put him to use.’
He’d already devised how.
The man seemed simpler than most—easy prey for manipulation.

* * *
Tap, tap—
Someone knocked on Yandre’s office door.
“Commander. It’s Cassius.”
“Come in.”
As the door opened, a tall man with violet hair entered and gave a sharp salute.
“Cassius Drake, reporting back from Reconnaissance duties.”
“What’s your report?”
Cassius immediately continued.
Not long ago, word had come that a Silver Dragon in the Northern Empire was taking villagers one by one and devouring them.
Following that report, an initial reconnaissance had been conducted and a probable Lair was located.
Cassius had been assigned to investigate the dragon’s traces at that location.
The results were.
“Yes, it was confirmed. We secured dragon footprints, blood trails, and witness testimony from the residents.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes. Demile, Baric, and Arus from the reconnaissance team all verified it themselves.”
“And the location of the Lair?”
“It’s believed to be beyond the Mountain Range, but ogres guard it further in, making it difficult to approach any closer.”
“Solitary ogres, and multiple ones at that…… The Dragon’s Guardian is confirmed. Excellent.”
The dragon’s lair had been found.
A successful hunt would bring honor to the Knight Order and secure significant merit.
Yandre’s resolve burned bright.
“We need to assemble a Subjugation force immediately. The Second Reconnaissance Team will join us tomorrow.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare everything.”
After saluting, Cassius left the room and did not return to his quarters, instead wandering the corridor.
‘Room 8, wasn’t it? Here.’
He wanted to see his brother, but he was also curious about what kind of person Cain was.
With a racing heart, he knocked, and a voice answered from within.
“Come in.”
At the familiar voice, Cassius pushed open the door with delight.
“Brother!”
“What? Cassius!”
The two reunited at the Knight Order embraced each other joyfully.
“Finally seeing you again!”
“Ha! You’ve gotten even stronger since I last saw you.”
Though the two were overjoyed, there were other eyes watching them.
Cassius awkwardly turned his head.
“Could this be…….”
“That’s right. Our master.”
“I’m Cain Assel.”
“Ah, pleased to meet you. Cassius Drake.”
As Cain grasped Cassius’s hand, he sensed his aura.
‘Four-star.’
He’d heard that Valensius’s younger brother had reached four-star rank at such a young age.
His hair color resembled Alton’s, as did his talent.
‘But Valensius’s talent is no less remarkable.’
Though he was currently third rank, he had the talent to rise to second rank before long.
At least, that was Cain’s assessment.
“If I may ask, how old are you?”
“Twenty.”
“We’re the same age then.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, you’re truly remarkable. To be a Sword Master already at that age…….”
“Well, I suppose things just fell into place that way.”
Watching Cain speak so casually, Cassius found himself thinking.
‘What’s with this composure?’
A peer dismissing his own accomplishments so lightly stirred something uncomfortable in him.
The phrase ‘just fell into place’ sounded like veiled arrogance.
‘……Though, if I’d awakened Sword Force and become a master at this age, I’d probably have an inflated ego too.’
Then Valensius asked.
“You were selected for the Dragon Reconnaissance Team, weren’t you? And as team leader no less. I heard it’s hard to be chosen for that.”
“Ah, I was fortunate. Plus, I’d gained experience from several previous missions.”
“Is the Reconnaissance complete?”
“Yes. We’ve confirmed the dragon, so our captain will be assembling the Subjugation force tomorrow.”
At those words, Cain’s eyes gleamed.
“Dragon Subjugation, then?”
“Ah, yes. A Silver Dragon was discovered in the area.”
“What are the success prospects?”
The question was enough to strain Cassius’s expression.
“Our Knight Order’s success rate isn’t particularly high. I suspect we may return empty-handed this time. Though, I suppose that’s true for most Knight Orders…….”
Having conducted the Reconnaissance himself, Cassius knew.
How grueling dragon hunting was.
Five Sword Masters were required just to barely bring down one dragon, and that was after finding the Lair, breaking through the Guardian, disarming traps, and overcoming countless other obstacles.
Yet the man sitting before him had accomplished it all alone.
“You defeated a dragon by yourself? How was that possible? It’s honestly not an easy task…….”
“Our master operates on an entirely different level from other Sword Masters.”
“Wow…… How could anyone…….”
“Curious, aren’t you? Here’s what happened…”
Valensius chattered away as though it were his own tale, while Cain himself remained silent, looking increasingly embarrassed.
The way Valensius laid it out like some grand epic made Cain want to disappear into the floor.
After spinning out his master’s exploits at length, Valensius pivoted to the sparring match with Grokus from a few days prior.
How Grokus had treated him unfairly, and how Cain had stepped in to take his side.
Then came the part about the duel itself—how overwhelmingly Cain had beaten him down.
Cassius’s expression shifted with each detail.
When he heard that his brother had been mistreated, rage surged through him. But when Valensius described how Cain had defended him and crushed Grokus, amazement and relief flooded in simultaneously.
“A few days ago, my brother told me that you took down Captain Grokus. That’s all I knew—but to think he’d been treated so unfairly…”
Anger threaded through Cassius’s voice.
“Everyone who’s passed through Captain Almon’s command knows what a difficult man he is. He tried to force me to salute him once, and since he seemed harmless enough, I complied. He never laid hands on me, so I didn’t mention it to Father.”
“I see.”
“Temperamental as he was, he earned his rank as captain on merit alone… yet you defeated him so easily.”
Something warm entered Cassius’s gaze as he looked at Cain.
Before meeting him in person, Cassius hadn’t known what to expect. Now the man’s true character was revealed.
Where Cain had seemed arrogant before, he now appeared as someone who wouldn’t bow to injustice.
Cassius decided to press ahead with a question that had been nagging at him.
“Our father didn’t reach the rank of Sword Master until much later in life. Is there a secret to your success?”
“I simply worked hard, I suppose.”
“Haha… so talent was the real secret.”
“You’re a genius too, brother, but you’ve still got a long way to go to catch up with your master.”
“And you’ve still got to catch up with me.”
“I think Valensius will close that gap soon enough.”
“Really?”
Valensius scratched his head sheepishly.
“Master, I’m grateful for your faith in me.”
“It’s not mere flattery. You have talent.”
As the warmth of conversation continued, Cain rose to his feet.
“Keep talking. I’ll be back shortly.”
“Where are you going, Master?”
“I have some business to attend to.”
The brothers watched his retreating figure, but his destination was somewhere entirely different.
Knock, knock.
After the knock, a voice came from within.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Cain Asher.”
“Come in.”
The door opened to reveal Captain Yandre, whose eyes registered surprise.
“What brings you here?”
“I heard you’re assembling a Dragon Subjugation unit.”
“Ah, young Cassius must have mentioned it.”
Cain’s eyes grew resolute as he regarded the captain.
“Please include me in the subjugation unit.”
Yandre’s expression changed.
Disapproval flickered across his face.
And with good reason—dragons were not prey that just anyone could hunt.
Least of all a recruit who’d been here only a few days.
“That’s not possible.”
“Have you forgotten what title I carry?”
“…”
“Adding another Sword Master to the unit will surely strengthen it. And if you factor in that I’ve hunted dragons before, there’s no question at all.”
“Hmm…”
Yandre’s deliberation deepened.
The logic was sound, after all.
‘True enough—having another Sword Master would definitely increase our chances of success. More Sword Masters always help.’
For a Dragon Subjugation, it was standard to deploy every available resource.
Dragons were difficult enough that anything less than full commitment meant failure.
Himself as the chief commander, one vice-captain.
He’d planned to bring all necessary personnel.
But a new recruit hadn’t factored into that calculation.
“In the entire history of the Empire, we have never once placed a recruit who has been here for merely two days into a Dragon Slayer subjugation team.”
“We have never had a Dragon Slayer enter as a recruit either.”
“We already have subjugation teams with accumulated experience against dragons.”
“My own experience participating in subjugation teams is no less than anyone else’s.”
“I understand you’re prepared, but this is not a decision to be made rashly…….”
“I am now a member of the Empire’s Knight Order. There is no reason not to deploy me, is there?”
Yandre’s mouth fell silent.
After pressing his temples in contemplation, his lips parted.
“Very well. I permit it.”
Watching Cain’s back as he left the room, Yandre felt an inexplicable chill.

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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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