A Dragonslayer’s Peerless Regression – 354



Episode 354

Zeke was silent for a moment at Shadia’s request for a chance then slowly opened his mouth.

“What kind of opportunity do you mean?”

Shadia said in a calm voice.

“As I said before the old man on the mountain is the enemy of the Salmak people including me. If you give me a chance I will select those among them who can become the boss’s strength.”

The assassins of Salmak were the best assassins on the continent.

If they joined Zeke’s camp it would be a great help.

‘It might be more efficient if I first draw the killers towards me and then attack the old man on the mountain.’

Anyway for Zeke Salmak was one of those people who had to be cleaned up.

It was a burden to fight against Narak and Siemens while leaving behind an untrustworthy enemy like the Old Man of the Mountain.

It was certainly more advantageous to clear out the Salmak and Scorpion Clans who were holding out in the desert area and then fight an all-out war against the alliance of Siemens and Narak.

Zeke nodded quickly to Shadia’s words.

“Good. I’ll leave this job to you Shadi. Are all the Salmak members we have here now trustworthy?”

Shadia shook her head at those words.

“There are some who send information separately to the mountain elders. The mountain elders always deploy personnel like this to monitor each other’s colleagues.”

It was a clever way to make colleagues not trust each other.

That way the killers of the Salmak can’t join forces to attack him.

Zeke nodded.

“Gather the selected personnel excluding the spies. After eliminating the solitude kill the personnel on the mountain old man’s side. Then the mountain old man will think that I have sorted you out and use this as an excuse to send assassins.”

“That’s correct. If we send out the assassins that way I can then persuade them to take out the assassins and effectively bring the Salmak’s personnel to our side.”

After organizing his plans as Shadia had said Zeke thought back to the space where Salmak had been staying.

‘That place is also likely an ancient ruin. I wonder what’s hidden underneath.’

Zigg who decided to remove the curtain was unhesitating.

Shadia who had received the order had already disappeared from the carriage.

Zick left alone looked out the window.

Through the window I could see the cityscape of Atlas and the Four Seasons Castle in its center.

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Zik’s gaze as he looked at the four seasons gradually deepened.

* * *

Upon arriving at Atlas Zeke entered the Four Seasons straight away.

Since I had been summoned by the master of the house Arthur Draker I went straight up to the master’s office without delay.

Zeke still felt nervous whenever he saw Arthur Draker.

Unlike her previous life in this life Arthur Draker was showing interest in her but she couldn’t help but feel reluctant because he was still a person she couldn’t figure out.

This was especially so this time because there was something on my mind.

‘Are you really going to ask me about Bacchus?’

Zeke disobeyed Arthur Draker’s orders through Souma and released Bacchus.

Because he decided to help Bacchus and his mother Carmilla.

Arthur Draker was no ordinary man even though he cut off Bacchus’ arm and sent it to the black stage as false evidence.

He might have figured out Zeke’s trick.

Zeke carefully opened the door and went inside.

But when he entered the guest house a completely unexpected sight awaited him.

pop!

At first I thought it was an attack by a drunkard and quickly drew my sword but it wasn’t meant to attack him.

‘…what?’

I looked around with bewildered eyes and saw large phrases written on the walls of the guest house such as ‘Congratulations on your salvation!’ and ‘Zeke the famous person of the continent! Welcome back!’

Even Arthur Draker who set off the celebratory fireworks and Baron Draker Howard Draker next to him were wearing conical hats together.

For the first time since his return to this unbelievable sight Zeke felt as if his heart was about to break.

Arthur Draker said pushing Howard’s back as he stood awkwardly beside him.

“What are you doing Howard? Don’t go and congratulate our savior.”

Howard forced a smile and walked over to Zeke holding a three-tiered cake with a congratulatory message written on it.

The cake had a decoration on top that resembled Zeke holding Bahamut and the candles were burning brightly.

Howard held the cake up to Zeke’s face as if to tell him to blow out the candles.

Seeing Howard a member of the Cross Council responsible for the justice of the Draker family act like this made me think that Arthur had a weak spot in his sights.

‘…I guess I should turn it off first.’

Zeke blew out the candles on the cake.

Then Arthur who was behind him smiled and clapped and Baron who was standing next to him also clapped enthusiastically without changing his expression.

If Arthur had his master Duke by his side he might have felt that this situation could have been different but since Baron Draker the leader of the Black Stage was doing this it was a little scary.

Arthur smirked at Zeke who seemed extremely wary.

“Why is that guy making such an expression as if he saw something so unsightly? He shouldn’t be touched when his father prepared a congratulatory party for his proud son.”

“I was touched my lord.”

Arthur clicked his tongue and shook his head as he watched Zeke answer right away.

“Okay okay. I knew you’d react like that anyway. Now sit down.”

The four people sat on the sofa in the headmaster’s office.

Howard brought a knife and a plate fork and expertly cut the cake and shared it with us.

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Baron was pouring tea diligently from the side.

Zeke still looked uncomfortable at this sight.

‘Baron is the head of the household so let’s say that but what weakness did Howard have?’

Howard Drake was a shrewd little guy although he was portrayed as a war hero.

In his previous life Howard was also the one who most contributed to the transfer of the Draker family to the Empire.

Although Zeke’s return changed the history of the phenomenal world it was quite surprising to see Howard display such a submissive attitude.

Zeke felt the horror of Arthur Draker once again and thought about his death. It occurred to him that perhaps the family’s passing to the Empire in his previous life was part of Arthur Draker’s grand plan.

It was necessary to keep in mind the possibility that the death from illness itself was fake.

Arthur spoke to Zeke while eating cake not knowing whether he knew what Zeke was thinking.

“This time again you have done a great job.”

Zeke bowed his head to Arthur humbly.

“I was lucky.”

Arthur smiled at those words.

“Hahaha! How can you save the Holy Kingdom and defeat the imperial army led by the Emperor with only luck? Being too humble can’t be considered a virtue you punk.”

Zeke felt quite unfamiliar with Arthur as this was the first time he had seen him in such a good mood.

Then Baron handed out the tea he had brewed to everyone.

Arthur nodded savoring the scent of the tea.

“After all it’s best when you give me tea Baron.”

Baron bowed his head to Arthur with an expression that remained unchanged.

“Your praise is excessive my lord.”

Arthur shook his head and clicked his tongue at the sight of Baron like that.

“Anyway you and Zeke are the same.”

Although he said that Arthur’s expression was actually very satisfied.

He turned his head toward Howard as he sipped his tea.

“Howard what do you think of Zeke’s performance this time?”

Howard looked up in surprise at Arthur Draker’s call.

“Are you talking about that? That is that is….”

Unlike the last time he had seen her Howard was noticeably afraid of Arthur Draker.

Arthur stared at Howard like that waiting for what he would say.

Howard barely opened his mouth sweating profusely.

“Sir J. J. Drake’s achievements are truly remarkable. I have never seen a knight achieve such feats in such a short period of time at such a young age.”

Arthur Draker laughed at those words and said jokingly.

“Oh I see. Then what kind of reward should we give to Zeke who has accomplished such a great feat?”

At Arthur’s words Howard rolled his eyes and finally spoke.

“I think it would be a good idea to elevate Sir Zeke Draker who has done so well to the rank of Guardian Knight.”

Zeke was quite surprised by Howard’s words.

‘I never thought Howard would be the first to mention the Guardian Knights.’

Zeke has been a senior knight for less than a year.

In that situation it was quite burdensome to step down from the Guardian Knight position again.

Arthur chuckled at Howard’s words and stroked his neatly trimmed beard.

“Above the Guardian Knight. Well the place where Abel used to be is empty now.”

Howard visibly flinched when the subject of Abel came up.

Zeke understood why Howard was so nervous around Arthur.

‘Howard was on Siemens and the Empire’s side. With Abel the potential successor missing the Siemens family’s influence has been significantly reduced. With the Empire’s political situation also unstable due to the Emperor’s death it’s inevitable that they will be weakened.’

Although he had risen to the position of a member of the Cross with Siemens’s help it would be difficult to properly receive power from him in the current situation.

The position of a member of the Cross could not be maintained solely on one’s own merits.

Especially in cases like Howard’s where political power made up for lack of ability external power was even more essential.

Now that the Siemens tie was broken Howard absolutely needed Arthur Drake’s power to retain his seat in Congress.

‘Arthur Draker took advantage of Howard’s weakness to win over the members of the Cross to his side… Is this Draker’s way?’

In fact this was a common occurrence in the Draker family.

Even though the political battles in the Holy Land of Baadoka were complicated Draker’s politics were incomparable to them.

Draker was a place where people could threaten persuade ask for favors and even send assassins without hesitation.

On the surface he is known as the knight of knights but in reality he is a hotbed of the most base power struggles.

Arthur Draker was the top of the Draker family.

Although she is now eating a sweet cake and smiling broadly she is also a person whose appearance and behavior are unpredictable.

Arthur nodded after hearing Howard’s words and asked the Baron.

“What do you think Baron? Howard says so. Can we move Zeke up to the Guardian Knight?”

The Baron remained silent to Arthur’s question then slowly opened his mouth.

“I think Sir Zeke’s merits are well deserved. However the Council of Elders and the Cross will not accept them easily.”

Arthur had already made a somewhat forced push to elevate Abel to the rank of Guardian Knight.

He was demoted to Guardian Knight status ignoring family procedures using the excuse that he was a Black Knight.

Although Abel went missing and left a vacancy there was no set number of Guardian Knights so his absence was not really a problem.

Arthur nodded after hearing Baron’s words.

“That’s true. Hey Howard can you help me sort this out for the members of the Cross?”

Howard’s face turned pale at Arthur’s sudden words.

If he refused here it was clear that he would lose his membership in the Cross.

Howard nodded reluctantly.

“Oh I understand my lord.”

Arthur smiled with satisfaction at his words.

“Okay Howard will take care of the Cross. What about the Council of Elders…?”

Arthur Draker nodded thoughtfully.

But then Zeke looked at Arthur and opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty.”

Arthur smiled brightly at Zeke’s words.

“Oh okay. Do you have any good ideas?”

Then Zeke slowly opened his mouth.

“I don’t want to be a Guardian Knight.”