Chapter 137: Arthur’s Sword

Chapter 137: Arthur’s Sword 『 And so it began... Dun. Dun. Dun! 』 ’What is with that weird way of speaking?’ 『 Dramatic effects, Master ???? 』 ’You know what?’ 『 What...? You love it, right? Right? 』 ’Don’t do that again.’ 『 Huh? ???? Don’t be mean to me, Master 』 Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose as he walked down the familiar underground passage of their family’s castle. Alicia, who was in front of him holding the blue lantern, spoke up: "I heard about what happened yesterday." She giggled softly. "Because of you, five girls including your sister are out of commission?" Arthur covered his face in embarrassment. "Mom, please don’t." Alicia chuckled. "What? You don’t need to be shy." She turned to face him with an expression he couldn’t quite decipher. "So, when are you going to do the same with me?" Arthur smiled moving closer. "What? Were you jealous?" Alicia pouted slightly. "Yeah, I was. As the woman who has been there for you the most and slaughtered an entire race for you, don’t you think I should come first?" Arthur kissed her lips. "There, happy now?" Alicia nodded, turning slowly with a flushed face. After a moment, she asked, "Are you sure you want to meet the ancestor?" Arthur hesitated briefly before nodding. "I need closure. Besides, she’s my only lead on the one called God, at least for now." Alicia slowed her pace to match his. "But have you learned it yet?" Arthur looked at her. "Learned what?" Alicia stared at him as if puzzled, then shook her head. "Never mind, you’ll find out soon enough." The striking young man didn’t even have time to ask further questions as Alicia opened the door where Echidna was sealed. Unlike before, Arthur came prepared. He stepped inside the cave with full confidence and clapped. "Ok, wakey wakey." Nothing happened at first, then, just like before, the ice statue cracked, shards scattering everywhere, and from it emerged a massive white dragon. Echidna opened her eyes only to see the young man who had triggered her awakening, his hands in his pockets, the wind swirling around him, a detached look on his face. "Hmm..." She mused. "You don’t seem surprised." "Because I’m not," he answered flatly. After a moment, he sighed. "Look, I’ve got about six hours before I have to get inside a carriage to return to the capital, so let’s do this quickly." He extended his hand. "Become mine, Echidna Val Arcain." The ancient white dragon stared at him with rising emotions. Then she spoke as if masking them behind a façade. "Are you brain-dead?" Arthur’s tone remained even. "Nope. And yes, you heard me right, so no need to play that card." He repeated, "Become mine, Echidna." Echidna’s expression hardened, the mana in the air swelling. "How dare you—" Before she could finish, Arthur cut her off. "Shouldn’t you be the one to fix your curse?" "What?" She asked as the temperature dropped. Arthur stepped closer with a sigh. "I said: shouldn’t you be the one to fix the curse you placed on your people?" The white dragon narrowed her eyes. "Are you my descendant?" Arthur nodded. "Yes, I am your descendant." Her gaze flicked to Alicia behind him, then back to Arthur. "If that’s so, wouldn’t it be better for me to give you my immortal bloodline?" Arthur shook his head. "Don’t need it." He channelled mana as runes flared across his arm and beneath his eyes. "I already have one." Echidna nearly stumbled over her tail. "How? Not even my mother could replicate the immortal bloodline." Arthur nodded. "It was you who gave it to me." Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "But I still exist, and I have no memory of giving you anything." Arthur smiled and held out his hand. "If you want to know that badly, you can come with me." Echidna’s expression remained still as she replied. "Even if I wanted to go with you, I can’t." That was already within Arthur’s calculations. If Echidna could leave freely, she wouldn’t have been trapped here in the first place. Just like Nathira who was once sealed in the Hollow Mountain. Echidna was also bound here—but by a different force and in a different era. Arthur, however, had already thought of a counter. "Echidna Val Arcain, if you can swear undying loyalty to me today, then I, Arthur Val Arcain, shall give you the freedom you seek." ’Val?’ Only someone of the immortal bloodline could use and answer to that name. That meant the man before her was indeed a demonic dragon with the highest bloodline. ’It isn’t a bad deal...’ she peered at him. ’Plus, he’s been marked by many powerful beings—I can even sense Nath’s aura on him.’ Echidna opened her mouth to speak, but fell silent when her gaze caught a golden light within Arthur. ’That’s...’ She smiled faintly, then lowered herself into her human form. She wasn’t sure if it was coincidence or fate shifting in her favour. Whatever it was, she intended to seize it. As soon as she transformed, she wrapped a heavy fur cloak around herself. She was breathtaking—like winter incarnate. Icy horns sprouted from the sides of her head, pale skin dusted with faint icy scales nearly indistinguishable from her complexion, and sharp blue eyes with vertical slits. Immediately after transforming, she appeared in front of Arthur and knelt on one knee. "Should I call you Master now?" Arthur looked at her steadily. She swallowed. ’Looks like I can’t talk my way out of this one.’ She exhaled. "Never knew someone in this generation still knew of the dragon oath. Did Nathira tell you?" Arthur paused briefly. "No. It’s common knowledge to me since I have the dragon tongue." Echidna’s eyes snapped open wide. "You have the dragon tongue? Do you mean the real one...?" Arthur nodded. "Yes. Not the version used by ordinary ancients, but the true dragon tongue." Arthur had never known this until he casually used it before Nathira to kill a bug crawling nearby. Only then did he learn there were different types of dragon tongue. The royal version, which most dragons used. The ancient version, wielded by high-ranking dragons, which was also the type Ha-joon used before the first reset. And finally, the True Dragon Tongue, used exclusively by the first dragon. It wasn’t originally a dragon tongue at all, but research revealed it stemmed from the first dragon’s link to the one called God. And since Arthur was God himself, the ancient dragon tongue he inherited from Echidna had evolved into the True Dragon Tongue. Echidna grinned inwardly. ’So that’s why he was so confident?’ Since her mother’s death, no one had wielded her dragon tongue. That was exactly why she remained bound here, since she needed someone who could override her restraints. And that required the True Dragon Tongue, infused with a trace of Divinity. She smiled. ’Did he show me the trace of that man because of this?’ Arthur lingered, then repeated, "Now let me ask again, Echidna Val Arcain, will you serve me as my sword?" There was little else to say. The man before her—descendant or not—had the power to place all beneath his feet. She bowed her head. "I, Echidna Val Arcain..." Faint runes glowed on her tongue, her heart blazing, strange letters swirling around both her and Arthur. After a pause, she continued, "...swear on my dragon heart and tongue that I shall serve as the sword of Arthur Val Arcain until I draw my last breath." She placed a hand to her chest. "I shall be a sword not only to protect but to defend my Master and those he loves. If I dare disobey his orders or betray him, let my soul be condemned to eternal suffering." The moment she finished, Arthur declared: "As your Master, I, Arthur Val Arcain, grant you freedom." He then added, "Now, arise." The invisible blue chains binding Echidna shattered into fragments as the oath from her lips transformed into runes, breaking the tether on her back and replacing it with a new vow and decree. She collapsed to the ground with a heavy sigh. "Finally, I’m free." Her gaze lifted to Arthur, and she smirked. "How does it feel having your ancestor as your sword?" Arthur shrugged. "I already have an ancient dragon with me, so it’s not that big of a deal." As if remembering something, she quickly asked, "Come to think of it, I almost forgot. Who exactly is Nathy to you?" Arthur grinned, clearly eager to savour her reaction. "She’s your mistress." "Oh..." She replied absently—then froze. Her head lifted slowly, cold sweat dripping down her temples. "What?!!" She began trembling violently as if someone had just told her a cruel joke. After a moment, she clutched Arthur’s leg. "Please revoke the contract, I don’t want it anymore!" Arthur lifted her off his leg. "That’s not how contracts work." He smirked. "You’re my slave now." 『 ???? Master gets another waifu! Hurray! ????️』 ’Please, Emo, don’t.’ 『 Emo thinks you’re a perverted ????』 ’Ha...’ he exhaled. ’Just transfer ownership of Star Cleaver to Echidna.’ 『 Already using first names, I see ????』 Arthur let out another sigh and summoned Star Cleaver. Since he was back in the normal timeline, that meant he had saved Nathira and claimed Star Cleaver, and he was certain it would be better in Echidna’s hands. Echidna stared at the sword as if her voice had been stolen. "This is..." ─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───