A Dragonslayer’s Peerless Regression

Chapter 104

"Unlock both of them."

Sieg thought he could accumulate points again later. However, not unlocking available skills would only delay getting stronger. Therefore, Sieg unlocked both skills and opened the Dragon Skills panel.

Dragon Skills (3rd Stage Unlocked): Dragon Eyes (Expert) / Dragon's Majesty (Expert) / Devour (Expert) / Word Magic (Beginner) / Dragonscale Armor(Skilled) / Dragon's Claw(Skilled) / Dragon's Sense(Beginner) / Dragon's Breath(Beginner)

Sieg decided to first test out Dragon's Sense.

Ts-ts-ts-ts—

Light emanated from Sieg's Dragon Eyes.

"Huh?"

However, nothing significant happened.

"What is this? I don't see anything different from usual."

Having overcome the side effects of the Soul Resonance, Sieg rose slowly.

It was then.

Boom-boom-boom-boom—

Suddenly, the surroundings began to change.

"What, what's happening?"

The room inside the tower where Sieg stood began to display a panorama of the past, just like a magic recording device playing its stored images.

Among the unfolding scenes, Sieg paused at one.

『Aaaagh!』

It was a scene showing Sieg treating Angelina in the room.

Sieg watched himself treating Angelina with a Great Purification, as if he were a third party observing.

He walked towards the vision of Angelina receiving treatment.

The surroundings changed again.

Sieg felt as though he were sinking into a deep swamp.

The surroundings transformed, and suddenly someone appeared in front of Sieg.

『This curse should suffice. The more beautiful the target, the more pain they'll suffer.』

A hooded sorcerer was conversing with someone.

Sieg quickly recognized the sorcerer. He was the one Sieg had caught in his past life, the sorcerer used forbidden ancient magic.

Sieg focused on the person speaking with the sorcerer, straining to see through the dreamlike distortions of their features and surroundings.

A man with a rugged face, his beard running from sideburn to chin, spoke to the sorcerer.

『If it's a gem I can't have, it might as well not exist. You must thank the Abyss for introducing you to me.』

Sieg tilted his head in confusion at the man's words.

'Abyss? What is that?'

As Sieg tried to approach the man, an unexplained force pulled him back abruptly.

Boom-boom-boom-boom—

It felt like he was rapidly propelled through a long, dark tunnel.

When he opened his eyes, Sieg found himself back in his original position, seated.

"Huff!"

Cold sweat drenched Sieg's entire body.

"My gosh. So this is Dragon's Sense?"

A wave of intense fatigue washed over him, unlike anything replenished by his Endless Stamina. It was a mental exhaustion that Sieg could no longer endure, and he collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep immediately.

* * *

Sieg, who usually slept no more than four hours normally, finally awoke twelve hours later.

"Third-stage skills aren't to be used lightly."

The idea that a human could use dragon skills was already absurd. Given that Dragon's Sense was a skill unlocked with 500 points, he couldn't even imagine the potential of Dragon's Breath, unlocked with 800 points.

Sieg decided to verify it later and got up slowly, seeking out Duke Graham and Katherine.

He showed them a drawing of the face of the man he had seen through Dragon's Sense the night before.

"Do either of you know a man who looks like this?"

Duke Graham scrutinized Sieg's drawing carefully before nodding.

"Yes, of course. He's Dario Totolino from the Rom Empire, known as the Steel King. A man of immense wealth."

Katherine winced upon seeing Dario's drawing. She couldn't contain her anger, her voice sharp.

"Just looking at this man's drawing angers me."

"Lady Katherine, did something happen between you and this Dario Totolino?"

Katherine hesitated, then slowly began to speak.

"Since Sir Sieg is a benefactor of our family, I'll be forthright. Dario Totolino is a pervert who has an inappropriate liking for young girls."

Sieg was taken aback by her words.

Katherine continued, "Would you believe he relentlessly sent letters proposing to our Angelina after seeing her once at a party when she was ten? At that time, he was already older than me."

Listening to Katherine, Sieg nodded.

'So, when he said it'd be better for a gem he couldn't possess to disappear, that's what he meant. I wondered why he would deliberately seek out such a curse...'

Slowly and deliberately, Sieg shared his suspicions with Duke Graham and Katherine.

"Duke, lady Katherine. I suspect it is Dario Totolino who placed the curse on Lady Angelina."

Startled by his words, both Duke Graham and Katherine gasped.

"Re-really?"

"Further investigation is needed to be certain, but at this point, it's very probable."

Katherine was so shocked that she was at a loss for words.

Sieg provided the Duke with the location of the dungeon where he had caught the ancient sorcerer in his past life.

"Capture the sorcerer who cast the curse and contact me. I will get to the bottom of Dario Totolino's involvement."

"Understood, Sir Sieg. How can we ever repay this debt?"

"You saved me, didn't you? That's more than enough."

Sieg rose and packed for his journey to Atlas. Since the Crimson Lion Knights remained near Panstas, he planned to discreetly exit the border using the Graham Duke's carriage.

Once Sieg settled into the carriage, he was startled to find someone else inside.

"Lady Angelina?"

Indeed, Angelina was in the carriage. The presence of the Duke's daughter ensured that no one would dare interfere.

Smiling, Angelina spoke to Sieg.

"I am thrilled to assist Sir Sieg."

Feeling the gracious care of the Graham Duke's family, Sieg made himself comfortable in the carriage and embarked toward Atlas.

As they conversed during the journey, Sieg's mind fixated on the word "Abyss" that Dario Totolino had mentioned to the ancient sorcerer.

'I have a bad feeling, though I don't know what it is.'

Sieg had revealed the location of the ancient sorcerer to Duke Graham primarily to capture Dario Totolino and uncover what "Abyss" truly entailed. Since acquiring Dragon's Sense, Sieg found his intuition sharper and more alert.

'This "Abyss" group—there's certainly something going on.'

* * *

Upon reaching Atlas, Sieg returned inconspicuously to his mansion. Lady Angelina planned to stay in Atlas for a few days before returning to Panstas.

"Sir Sieg, please visit me while I'm here."

"Of course, lady Angelina."

Despite the enticement of the continent's most beautiful woman, Sieg remained unmoved.

As Sieg entered his estate, Felix and Liam, who were training, ran to him first.

"Master!"

"Lord!"

Since Sieg had been absent for over a month without any communication, both they and his household were worried.

Glancing at the numerous crates piled up in the mansion's garden, Sieg asked.

"What's all this?"

Felix answered excitedly, "The Knight of Platinum! Dame Kali Draker sent them!"

Sieg opened one of the crates.

'My goodness.'

The crate was filled with gold ingots, reflecting Draker's promise of ample rewards by sending several boxes of gold. Upon opening other crates, he discovered they contained rare weaponry.

Next to him, Liam and Felix were left speechless at the unimaginable scale of the gifts.

Sieg closed the crates and instructed, "Store them in the warehouse."

Felix and Liam, born into humble beginnings, trembled with excitement and carefully moved the treasure-filled crates.

Inside the mansion, Duke, Pharel, and Decker cheered and welcomed Sieg back.

After checking in with each of his household members, Sieg went up to his room with Duke.

"You crazy disciple! Kali gave me a brief rundown. I can't decide if I should praise you or scold you for being reckless."

"Please praise me if you can."

"No! Do you think your life is worth ten times more than others'? Tasks are important, but ultimately, the most important thing is your life, you reckless disciple!"

Feeling the affection wrapped in Duke's harsh words, Sieg grinned.

"I'll be more careful next time, master."

Taken aback by Sieg calling him Master, Duke sheepishly scratched under his nose.

"Ah, you little rascal. Right. Anyway, you did well. Thanks to you, Four Seasons Castle is in turmoil."

"Has the vote for the Guardianship of Abel changed?"

"Yes, apparently Abel has canceled the proposal altogether, thinking it's impractical under the circumstances."

Sieg was astonished at Duke's words. He hadn't expected Abel to cancel the vote entirely.

'Does that mean the failure to eliminate Carus has strained relations with the Empire?'

The strategic alliance with the Empire was Abel's greatest political leverage. If the Empire had withdrawn due to this incident, it was likely that many of the Elders who supported Abel had rescinded their endorsement.

"Abel has canceled his proposal and left Four Seasons Castle. While not confirmed, he appears to have headed toward Alencia. The movements in the Avian Ghetto are troubling, and the Alencian dispute with the Empire is also on the brink of explosion, yet he isn't intervening but doing something else..."

It seemed the situation in Alencia was more dire than expected.

'I'd better contact Melissa.'

After concluding his conversation with Duke, Sieg contacted Melissa.

***

A few days later, an immediate response arrived, stating that Princess Melissa had personally come to Atlas to meet him. Sieg set out for the indicated hotel to meet her.

Inside the hotel, Sieg found Princess Melissa waiting in the VIP room.

"Welcome, Sir Sieg."

Meeting Princess Melissa again after some time, she appeared elegant and beautiful as always, though a shadow loomed over her face.

"The situation along the border isn't good, is it?"

Melissa nodded.

"We have a problem, Sir Sieg."

She handed him a report. Upon reading its contents, Sieg frowned.

"You're saying the cases of Crimson Blossom Disease have increased? Even with the medicine?"

Melissa replied in a worried tone.

"We haven't yet completed the facilities to produce the medicine in large quantities. More troubling is... mysterious figures keep intercepting the medicine mid-transit."

"Intercepting the medicine? What do you mean?"

"It is exactly as I said: They destroy or seize the wagons transporting the medicine. If it were ordinary bandits, they'd know it's medical supplies and would demand a toll or engage in negotiations, but there's been none of that."

Listening to Melissa, Sieg frowned.

"You suspect it's the Empire's doing."

"It's the most plausible assumption."

"Have you sent knights? Has it been ineffective?"

"I don't call them mysterious figures for no reason. Despite sending knights, these figures manage to intercept the wagons unnoticed."

"Hmm... Figures capable of evading knights..."

Sieg thought there might be a connection to Abel's departure for the Alencian dispute zone.

He stood up.

"Let's go."

Surprised, Melissa asked, "Where to?"

"Alencia."

Melissa was taken aback by Sieg's words.

"Are you saying you'll go yourself, Sir Sieg?"

"Yes. Abel Draker's actions seem suspicious, and it's best to check in person."

The decision of Abel to forsake his persistent pursuit of the Guardianship vote and head straight to Alencia suggested something significant was happening there.

Sieg wished to uncover what Abel intended to do in that place.

Quickly, Sieg called for Felix and Liam, packed lightly, and set out for Alencia with Melissa and her entourage.

As a result, Angelina, who had been waiting for Sieg's attention in Atlas, had to eventually return to Panstas without seeing him.

However, during her week-long stay, her renowned beauty spread throughout Atlas, firmly establishing her as the most beautiful woman in the Central Continent.

Her presence also inadvertently boosted the Graham Bank's reputation.

* * *

"Wow, master, this is really..."

Felix trailed off, unable to articulate his amazement at the scenes outside the carriage.

The border area's condition was far worse than anticipated. Destruction plagued the landscape, with villages left in ruins, stricken by Crimson Blossom Disease or ravaged by marauding bands.

Mercenaries turned bandits victimized the populace, leaving the region desolate and in chaos.

Melissa, seated next to Sieg, remarked grimly, "The situation in the Avian Ghetto is even worse. The ongoing conflict between the Avian and the Empire has resulted in high casualties and escalated tensions."

The Avian Ghetto was a demilitarized zone squeezed between Alencia and the Rom Empire. Originally roaming the undeveloped western half of the Central Continent, the Avian had been pushed to the current ghetto by the force of the Rom Empire and the central kingdoms.

However, the Empire's unyielding ambition for territorial expansion led to its encroachment on both the Jinn Ghetto and the Alencia region.

Upon arrival at the Alencian border headquarters, Sieg and his party disembarked from the carriage.

At that moment, an officer from the Alencian garrison rushed frantically toward Melissa.

"My lady, we have a major problem!"

"What is it?"

"The transportation unit has been annihilated!"