A Dragonslayer’s Peerless Regression – 161



Episode 161

Only then did Zeke realize that the man captured by the Knights was the swordsman from the adventurer party he had met in the Giant Mountains and he asked again.

“Rick the sympathetic guy?”

Rick’s face turned bright red at those words.

* * *

Zeke explained the situation to Nikolai and assured him that Rick and his group were not suspicious.

The Thistle Knights who owed him the lives of their comrades released Rick and his party without a word and treated them to a meal and drinks as an apology.

Claire and Arin still remained vigilant but Jason drank Hwaryeongju and mingled with the incomprehensible northerners with his characteristically sad demeanor.

Zeke called the party leader Rick aside and asked what was going on.

“I came north in search of the evil sorcerer as Zeke told me.”

He continued speaking quickly.

“I discovered traces of a sorcerer on the Ice Mountains and was exploring the area when I was chased by some suspicious men in black. I barely managed to escape them but I was suddenly attacked and captured by those northerners.”

Zeke listened to Rick’s words and was inwardly amazed.

It was Zeke himself who had ordered them to explore the north but he had no idea that they would actually find traces of the sorcerer.

‘It seems like this party was much more skilled than I thought.’

Zeke didn’t know it but Rick’s party was one of the top groups of adventurers.

It wasn’t for nothing that the Graham Dukes made a separate request.

Zeke thought about it for a while and then said to Rick.

“I will also help you in chasing the sorcerer.”

Rick smiled at those words and asked.

“Are you sure about me?”

Rick’s expression brightened greatly as he had seen firsthand his skills in annihilating dozens of monsters in the Giant Mountains.

Unlike wizards sorcerers were difficult to track down and deal with because they dealt with strange and mysterious curses.

If a capable inspector like Zeke could help the mission would be easier.

Then Rick said to Zeke with a slightly anxious expression.

“But by the way how much should I pay as an advance payment? Of course it would be right to pay a reasonable amount but the advance payment we received from the workshop has already been used up for the work costs… I wonder if I can pay an amount appropriate for an excellent inspector like Mr. Zig…”

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At those words Zeke smiled and said.

“You don’t have to give me an advance payment. Just give me 30% of the success reward after completing the mission.”

Rick’s expression brightened again at Zeke’s words.

“Thank you! I’m sure your colleagues will be happy to hear that you helped them!”

Rick left the room to deliver the news to his colleagues.

‘What a nice party venue.’

Having spent years as a porter for an adventurer’s party in his previous life Zeke knew very well how many unscrupulous party leaders there were. In fact it was hard to find someone with both skill and character like Rick among the adventurers.

Zeke watched Rick and his group closely.

He was always thirsty for talent.

* * *

The next day Zeke and Rick decided to pursue the sorcerer and parted ways with the Thistle Knights.

Nikolai expressed his regret to Zeke.

“It’s a shame to postpone Ranger support.”

“I think we will meet again.”

“Zeke Murray let us engrave your name forever as a friend of our Order of the Thistle. Come visit us at Himonas next time. We’ll treat you very hot.”

“Okay thank you Nikolai.”

After saying their goodbyes Zeke and Rick’s group left the snowy field where the fortress was.

As they were walking along the road Zeke asked Rick.

“Are you saying there is a dungeon you are expecting?”

Rick nodded and answered.

“Yes. Although it is less well known than the Giant Mountains the Ice Mountains also have many large-scale dungeons.”

Jason who was standing next to him took Rick’s words and continued his explanation.

“Well that’s right… the dungeon on the Ice Mountains side is unusual.”

“Is it unusual?”

“It’s a bit hard to explain. What should I call it? Hmm. Something a bit more mysterious? More and more unknown forces are being discovered that bring about phenomena that cannot be explained by modern magic.”

Zeke nodded after hearing Jason’s words.

“Surely sorcerers are people who seek ancient powers so they seek unknown powers. Is that why you thought they would be in dungeons?”

“Yes that’s right. I asked around the base camp on the way to the Ice Mountains and found out that a few months ago a suspicious person bought equipment here and went over. The equipment he bought wasn’t for dungeon exploration but for setting up a camp. It was only for one person.”

“I guess that means we’ll be staying in the dungeon for quite some time.”

“Yes. Besides it’s usually not adventurers who buy that kind of equipment but rather magicians who want to stay in dungeons and research something.”

“I know what you mean.”

“When I looked at the equipment I bought it didn’t seem like a completely dangerous place for an unauthorized dungeon. I wanted a place that was somewhat accessible but not so much that people would go there so I filtered out dungeons that were close to being ‘forbidden areas.’”

Jason unfolded the map of the mountain range and pointed to the location of the dungeon that met the criteria.

Zig nodded after confirming the location of the dungeon.

If it had been other adventurers they would have just searched the ice mountain range but Rick’s party was impressive in that they planned the tracking route in a logical way.

Zeke decided to follow Rick and his group and explore the dungeon in the Ice Mountains.

After turning on the map and finding the safest route to the indicated dungeon Zeke told Rick that he had been this way before and led the group up the snowy mountain.

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Perhaps because they were experienced adventurers they were able to navigate the rugged snowy mountains with great skill.

As it grew dark Zeke began preparing to camp looking for a cave to escape the cold.

Rick and his group gaped in amazement at the sight of the camping gear that Zeke had taken out.

“Oh my god. I’ve never seen a subspace bag like this before.”

“This is an artifact I was lucky enough to obtain from the ruins. Eat it before it gets cold.”

Rick and his group drank down the soup that Zeke had just made.

As I ate the warm soup the chill that had permeated my body seemed to go away.

Arin said in a curious manner while eating the soup.

“I felt it last time too but this soup that Mr. Jik gave me is incredibly delicious. Is there a secret recipe?”

It was a simple soup made with fresh ingredients kept in inventory and the skills of the Atlas special chefs hired by Decker so it was a taste that was possible.

But he couldn’t tell the truth so Zeke smiled awkwardly and said.

“Isn’t the market the best seasoning?”

It was a really tasty soup clearly different from the delicious ones that she had eaten when she was hungry but Arin somewhat agreed with Zeke’s words and focused on eating.

After eating the group decided to take turns standing guard.

Rick and his men gave the first night’s guard up to Zeke.

In fact it was Zig who had secretly summoned the Dragon Tooth Soldiers and placed them around before entering the cave.

Zig leaving the border to the dragon’s guard sat down in front of the cave and meditated with his eyes closed.

I kept picturing in my head how I could connect the Infinite Chain with the Golden Sword of the Sun.

‘A realm where one can practice swordsmanship without using a sword.’

Zeke had a feeling that the Infinite Chain the last remaining secret of the Arc Paladin might be the clue to his promotion to the Black Knight.

‘Continuously connect all movements.’

Zeke split the golden swords of Agamemnon that he had learned and tried to connect them together.

‘It seems like something is within reach but it can’t be caught.’

At that moment something crossed Zeke’s mind.

The secret art of Yelin Ishtar who fought in the southern border area.

Unlike the Central Continent style of swordsmanship the martial arts that used the entire body and struck quickly were unique and powerful.

‘I think it was called the art of squinting.’

Although the dagger technique was sharp the core of Ishtar’s martial arts was the kicks coming from various angles.

When it seemed like it was flying to the left an attack came in under the chin and when I avoided it it changed direction again and struck the crown of my head.

It was difficult to deal with Ishtar’s martial arts which flew at irregular angles with the relatively static Central Continent style of swordsmanship.

Zeke tried to understand the flow of the magic that Yellin had performed in his head.

Yellin’s every move was vividly depicted in his mind.

Zeke watched Yellin’s movements dozens and hundreds of times as if he was watching a 3D image trying to learn the strange movements.

But the realization of the depth of understanding did not come easily.

‘I told you to go back when things get urgent. If you practice calmly you’ll find a clue.’

As I was trying to control my anxious mind I felt a presence behind me.

When Zeke turned around Rick was standing there.

“It’s not time yet so please sleep a little more.”

Then Rick shook his head and sat down next to Zeke.

“I can’t sleep. If it’s okay with you Zeke can I give you some company?”

“Why not?”

Zeke looked at Rick’s expression and realized that something was bothering him.

Then Rick hesitated for a moment and slowly opened his mouth.

“Mr. Zeke I have a favor to ask.”

“Yes please speak.”

“Could you please take a look at my sword?”

Zeke hesitated for a moment at Rick’s sudden suggestion and then nodded.

“I don’t know if I can help but if you need it….”

Rick’s expression brightened at Zeke’s answer and he jumped up from his seat.

Then he drew his sword and took a stance.

Zeke tilted his head at Rick’s posture.

‘It’s too formal to be considered an adventurer’s stance.’

Rick steadied his lower body and swung his sword quickly.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye the sword flashed and swung through the air three times.

Zeke’s face hardened the moment he saw Rick’s swordsmanship.

‘This swordsmanship…’

As far as he could remember it was clearly the five-light sword technique practiced by the Thebes Royal Guard Knights.

The Five-Light Sword Technique which allows one to swing the sword five times in the blink of an eye was known as a traditional sword technique that had been passed down for a thousand years along with Thebes.

Zeke who introduced himself as a mercenary answered calmly without showing any sign of knowing about the Five Light Sword Techniques.

“What a great swordsmanship.”

“As expected Mr. Zeke knows right away.”

“It’s a high level sword for an adventurer’s sword… Have you received formal knight training?”

Rick nodded with an embarrassed expression at Zeke’s words.

“Yes. It’s hard to go into detail but due to my family circumstances I underwent quite rigorous training from a young age.”

“I see. If you have received formal knight training I wonder if a mercenary like me would be of any help to you.”

Then Rick shook his head and said urgently.

“That is not true. The divine power that you showed at the Giant Mountains Master Zigg was greater than that of any knight! Please teach me even a little!”

Rick looked quite desperate.

Zeke looked at Rick like that and realized that he was blocked by a wall.

‘You must have been stagnant at the Purple Knight’s Wall for a long time.’

In the Draker family it was common to see people as old as Rick being promoted to the rank of Purple Knight.

Felix who was around the same age as Rick and even the younger Liam were challenging the wall of the Blue Knight beyond the Purple Knight.

In fact it was not that Rick was lacking but that their skills and talents were simply too outstanding.

In most families it was common to feel and become familiar with the aura only after passing the terms and conditions.

Zeke slowly got up from his seat.

And he said to Rick.

“Swing your sword at me with all your might.”

Rick was taken aback by those words.

“yes?”

“I told him to swing his sword at me with all his might even if it meant using his aura.”

Rick hesitated with his sword in his hand unsure of what to do.

At that moment Zeke pulled out his sword and swung it at Rick.

“omg!”

Rick panicked and raised his sword to block Zeke’s sword.

But unable to overcome the force he stepped back and dropped his sword.

Zeke glared at him and aimed his sword at Rick’s neck.

“You are dead to me in one day.”

“Ji Jik-nim. This is…..”

“Sword fighting isn’t the problem.”

The tip of Zeke’s sword dug into Rick’s neck.

“Rick you’re so clumsy.”