Chapter 134

Chapter 134
## Chapter 134

“This is madness!”

Standing before the Dragon’s Heart, Ivar felt the walls closing in.

He was baffled by how Lucian could maintain a grip on the organ with his naked hands, yet the raw, staggering energy pulsing from it was undeniable. Now that the heart was fully liberated from its containment, even a momentary touch would likely be a death sentence; his physical form would surely shatter, unable to process such a violent surge of power.

Still, with the entire tribe watching his every move, he couldn’t simply turn down Lucian’s offer without providing a justification.

‘Curses, what choice do I have?’

It was impossible for Ivar to replicate the miraculous display Lucian had just performed, meaning the result of this “favor” was already decided. If he couldn’t actually harness the heart’s essence, he at least needed to appear capable of holding it securely. That was the only way to sustain the image of a warrior who had once earned the heart’s favor.

But if he claimed he had once held it safely, only to have his body torn apart upon touching it now? He would be branded a charlatan who had never truly been chosen—a thief who had simply pillaged the heart’s energy.

‘If my deceptions are brought to light, it won’t just be my reputation that burns. My sons will be dragged down with me.’

No matter how talented a child might be, the stain of a parent’s disgrace is hard to wash away. Regardless of their future feats, they would be loathed for eternity, with the masses whispering that the blood of a liar flowed in their veins.

To make matters worse, Ainar and Brunda had utilized the dragon’s strength through the very techniques Ivar had provided. The tribe would conclude the whole lineage had been part of Ivar’s fraud from the start.

‘To have this happen the moment I revealed the truth…!’

Cornered in a position with no escape, Ivar shut his eyes tightly. Since the situation had reached this crisis point, a clean getaway was impossible. He had to decide what to discard to ensure he walked away with the smallest possible injury.

He had to sacrifice his ego.

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but there is no need. I can recognize the outcome without needing to grasp the heart myself.”

“And what exactly does that mean?”

“The Dragon speaks to me. It tells me not to hesitate, for it has already designated its true master. Even if I were to take the heart now, the bond would remain unchanged.”

Ivar fought to keep his expression steady and adopted the mask of a profound mystic. From a distance, he projected the aura of a man who had found peace, someone entirely detached from worldly desires.

“Though this is a holy relic our people have guarded for generations, it is only proper to step aside once its true owner arrives. As a warrior who once felt its favor, I intend to see that duty through.”

“So, you are admitting I am the master of the heart?”

“I am. It is yours. However, keep in mind that the Dragon’s preference and the Trial for the Chieftain are distinct. You still face the third challenge.”

“Hmph.”

Lucian let out a short sound of mock respect for Ivar’s mental gymnastics.

If Ivar touched the relic, he would die; if he refused outright, he would face the tribe’s wrath. Most people would have frozen in panic. Yet, Ivar had instantly surrendered the heart and spun the moment into a noble narrative. He had recast himself not as a failure rejected by the relic, but as a dignified leader adhering to the cosmic order.

Furthermore, he had protected his standing by separating the Dragon’s choice from the political trial.

“You’re clever. You threw away your pride to save your skin.”

Ivar didn’t flinch at Lucian’s low-voiced comment. He was determined to move forward as if this were all part of the plan.

However, Lucian’s next words sent a chill down Ivar’s spine.

“In that case, should I extend the same invitation to your sons?”

“…!”

Ivar, who thought he had regained his footing, turned to stone. If Lucian presented the heart to them, his sons would be forced into the same trap: touch it and perish, or bow to Lucian just as their father had.

The issue was that the stakes for the sons were different. In the heat of a race for the Chieftain’s seat, showing such deference to Lucian was essentially a surrender. If the crowd’s fervor continued to build, Lucian might be crowned the leader by acclimation right then and there.

“P-Please… stop…!”

His breath became shallow, and Ivar could barely force the plea out. As cold perspiration drenched his skin, Lucian’s voice cut through the air.

“We shall settle the third trial with honor. No more of these cheap maneuvers. Do we have an agreement?”

Ivar nodded with desperate intensity. Only then did Lucian grin with dark contentment, thrusting the Dragon’s Heart toward the sky and bellowing.

“Even the one previously favored by the Dragon has ceded to me! Who then can challenge my claim? I am the true wielder of this heart, and from this hour, the Dragon’s spirit walks with me!”

The crowd erupted in a thunderous roar. Even though their ancestral treasure was now held by an outsider, no one felt betrayed. They were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lucian was their destined king.

—

Gunstein struggled to process the whirlwind of events. Only yesterday, he had been stunned into silence by Felicia’s incredible prowess. And now, within twenty-four hours, the ownership of the tribe’s most ancient relic had shifted.

‘…I’ve been blindsided so many times that I don’t think much else can shock me.’

He felt he finally understood why Lucian’s primary followers were always so calm. When your leader is a man who shifts the foundations of the world every other day, chaos simply becomes the new normal.

Gunstein was actually starting to feel a sense of kinship with the other subordinates, until—

“Good grief.”

As if to prove he could still be surprised, Gunstein gasped again. That incredibly prideful Guide was actually dropping to his knees before Lucian.

“Marius, son of a humble farmer, pays his respects to the true successor of Valdek and the Duke of Asagrim. I beg your mercy for my past arrogance.”

“…”

Marius’s submission left everyone, from his own students to Lucian’s veteran guard, completely stunned. Marius was the man who had climbed higher than any other living mage. Though the Empire’s anti-magic stance meant he lacked official titles, in a different era, he would have been honored as a peer to a Sword Saint.

That was why they had tolerated his condescension—but seeing him so utterly broken and humble was jarring.

“M-Master! What is the meaning of this?!”

Despite Colin’s frantic questioning, Marius remained bowed and silent. He looked like a man who wouldn’t dare breathe without Lucian’s leave. Lucian looked down at him, clearly annoyed by the sight of a master mage acting like a groveling serf.

“I find this display unpleasant. Raise your head.”

“I am moved by your kindness, my Lord.”

“Don’t give me that. Why have you traded your scholarly dignity for the act of a beggar? Is this some kind of joke?”

“No, I simply…”

Marius’s mouth worked for a moment before he fell silent again. He realized that every time he tried to speak with his old ego, things only got worse. Lucian sighed and slumped back into a relaxed, almost dismissive posture, looking ready to walk away if he wasn’t satisfied.

“What is your goal? Now that your schemes have failed, are you trying to bow your way back into my good graces?”

“I have finally seen the truth.”

Marius spoke at last. In just those few minutes, he looked as if a decade had passed over his face.

“I believed my desire was a noble conviction. A drive I couldn’t abandon even in death—that dying for the cause was better than living without it.”

“And you were wrong?”

“Yes. I was completely deluded.”

Marius offered a bitter, self-aware smile.

“I only held onto that dream because I believed it was possible—because I thought the goal was within reach. If I had truly known it was impossible, I would have made a different choice long ago.”

A mercenary Marius once knew used to say that if he couldn’t have the whole prize, it was better to burn it all down. He claimed that a partial victory was just a form of pity, which was more insulting than losing. Marius had taken that philosophy to heart and believed he lived by it.

“But when I was hit with the reality that I could achieve nothing, I couldn’t stand it. I am not the type of man who can walk away from everything just because his primary ambition failed.”

“So? Since your plan for the Magic Tower is in ashes, you’re looking for a new master?”

“Precisely.”

“That’s bold. What is this new dream?”

“Please permit me to serve as your Chief Mage.”

“Hah.”

A sharp laugh broke from Hugo, who stood behind Lucian. It was almost pathetic to see the man trying to steal the Chief Mage title from his own student now that his grander plans had failed. Felicia and Raymond shared looks of disbelief, though they remained quiet.

Only Lucian stayed composed, posing a question with a neutral face.

“You want the Chief Mage position?”

“I do. But if that is occupied, let me serve in any capacity beneath it.”

“And if I refuse that too?”

“Then allow me to conduct research. Let me be an instructor to train the mages of the future.”

“And if I have no interest in that either?”

“Your Grace.”

Marius’s voice shook with emotion. When the onlookers looked at him, they saw a man on the verge of a breakdown. He abandoned all formal etiquette and began to wring his hands together, pleading like a tenant begging a landlord for an extension.

“I implore you… I am begging you for this chance, please…!”

“…”

Seeing their legendary teacher reduced to this, Colin and Helen looked away in shame. Despite his immense power, Marius had spent his life being hunted like an animal. He possessed the strength of a Sword Saint but had received only loathing and terror in return; it was no wonder he felt such deep bitterness.

That was likely why he had clung to the impossible dream of a new Magic Tower—to erase a lifetime of resentment in one grand stroke.

But Marius had failed. He hadn’t made himself indispensable to Lucian, nor had he built a foundation of trust. Not only was the Tower a fantasy, but he was now in danger of being forgotten by history entirely.

Since his future now rested solely on Lucian’s mercy, he had nothing left but this miserable begging.

“…”

The sight of a high-tier powerhouse groveling was so jarring that even Lucian’s loyalists were silenced. Felicia, specifically, squeezed her eyes shut. She realized that if she hadn’t crossed paths with Lucian and had grown old without purpose, she might have ended up just like Marius.

After a long, silent observation of the man at his feet, Lucian finally spoke.

“For someone claiming to be desperate, you haven’t offered me a reason to keep you.”

“What?”

“You haven’t listed your skills or explained how you would benefit me. You were full of such boasts not long ago.”

“…”

“I actually find that refreshing.”

As Lucian’s tone shifted to one of slight amusement, Marius looked up. Lucian’s gaze had softened considerably.

“If you had tried to sell me on your utility or told me I *had* to use you because of your talent, I would have thrown you out. But I like this better.”

“Y-Your Grace.”

“I’ll give you one last chance, because you left the final decision entirely in my hands. Don’t make me regret it.”

Tears began to fall from Marius’s eyes. Despite a lifetime spent hiding in the shadows, he had never been able to shed his fragile ego, which had led to a cycle of failure. He realized only now that the door only opened once he had discarded his pride and fully humbled himself.

A mixture of regret for not doing this sooner and the pure relief of a second chance flooded his heart.

“Thank you, Your Grace! Thank you…!”

“Keep your gratitude for now. Since you’re officially in my employ, I have questions. Answer them clearly.”

“Anything! I will tell you everything!”

*Fwoosh.*

A flame fueled by the Dragon’s essence sparked in Lucian’s palm. He looked at the eager Marius and asked his first question:

“This Dragon’s power—how do I actually control it?”