A Dragonslayer’s Peerless Regression

Chapter 68

The Draker Martial Tournament.

As the name suggested, it was a Martial Tournament hosted by the Draker family.

However, it wasn't exclusive to members of the Draker family.

Any young knight who had been promoted to a purple knight for five years or less was eligible to participate.

In essence, it was a competition designed to identify the next generation of rookies who would lead the continent.

Sieg nodded in response to the head of the family's words.

"Understood."

The head of the family looked at Sieg and asked.

"Are you saying you will win?"

"Yes."

Though his answer was brief, Arthur could sense the determination in Sieg's words.

Arthur, with a grin, said, "Good. I hope to present the winner's medal to you on the final day of the tournament."

Sieg nodded once more.

Arthur rose from his seat with a satisfied expression.

"And I have prepared a graduation gift for you."

He retrieved a box from the desk.

"Open it."

Sieg opened the box Arthur had prepared. His eyes widened upon seeing its contents.

'This is...?'

Inside the box was a metal badge along with some documents.

Sieg was astonished upon inspecting the metal badge. It was none other than a badge of entitlement to a territory.

Surprised, Sieg asked, "Are you granting me a territory?"

Arthur nodded.

"Indeed. We have decided to grant you the northern territory of the Troy Duchy, where you recently captured the demonic beast."

'A territory as a graduation gift.'

Even obtaining a Knight Order was far from the significance of owning a territory.

No matter how small, having a territory allowed a knight to be called a 'lord'.

It essentially granted him a noble title.

Even within the Draker family, only a high-ranking knight would receive a territory.

Bestowing a territory upon Sieg, who had just officially become a knight, was an unprecedented act.

Sieg expressed his gratitude to Arthur.

"I will strive to meet the expectations, family head."

"A manager will soon come to discuss the territory management, so you can get the details from him. In reality, professional managers will handle most of it, so you don't need to worry much."

"Thank you for your consideration, family head."

Only after collecting the oriental tea Arthur had offered did Sieg leave the family head's office.

'I never thought I'd become a lord at this age.'

The Draker family indeed went beyond expectations.

As Sieg left the Summer Song, feeling slightly dazed, someone approached him.

"Busy disciple of mine."

It was Duke, looking somewhat weary.

"Master, what are you doing here?"

Duke groaned, "I came to Atlas to rest near you, only to get caught by Arthur and end up working needlessly."

"Aren't you retired, master?"

"I retired only as a knight; I still hold a position with Draker."

"You've had a ten-year break, so it's okay to work a bit."

"Listen to you. You sound just like Arthur's son. Let's go home before we get caught by sycophants."

With that, Duke took Sieg and hurried back to the mansion.

As soon as they arrived, Duke discarded his boots and uniform and relaxed on the sofa.

"Phew, home is the best."

"This is my home, though."

"No, what belongs to the disciple belongs to the master too, you rascal."

Duke sipped the strong liquor brought by the servants and inquired, "So why did Arthur call you? I heard it was to celebrate your graduation, but he surely had more reasons than mere celebrations."

"I received a graduation gift."

"A graduation gift? Well, he's good at these things. Sometimes I wonder if he's a knight or a politician."

Duke poured more liquor into his glass and asked, "So, what did he give you? Usually, it's a sword or armor."

"I received a territory."

"Okay, a territory is also good, but what? What did you receive?"

"I received the northern territory of the Troy Duchy."

Duke was so startled that he didn't even notice the liquor spilling from his glass.

He finally gathered his wits.

"My, receiving a territory at your age. Arthur must be overjoyed. And the Troy Duchy's territory isn't bad for taxes, even if it's in the north."

"The mission was there, and the villagers were all good people, fostering a peaceful atmosphere."

"Well, isn't that great? The difference between just having a knight title and being a lord is immense."

Sieg nodded in agreement and said, "There's one more thing."

"Dude, you received more gifts?"

"No. It's more like a task. I was told to participate in the Draker Martial Tournament and win."

Listening to Sieg, Duke's face grew serious.

"The Draker Martial Tournament."

As Duke silently finished his drink, Sieg asked, "Why the grim expression, master? Is the tournament that high-level?"

Duke shook his head.

"No, considering your skills, winning should not be difficult."

"But you seem worried."

"If it's purely a skill competition, there wouldn't be an issue."

Duke put down his drink and explained, "Have you ever seen the Draker Martial Tournament, Sieg?"

"I've only heard it happens every five years. I was too focused on studies from the Cradle, academy, to Valhalla, so I never had the chance to see it."

Duke nodded understandingly.

"Then it's possible you don't fully grasp it. The Draker Martial Tournament isn't a simple competition."

"What do you mean by it not being a normal tournament?"

Duke, with a serious expression, told him, "It's a battlefield disguised as a martial tournament where families go to war."

Sieg appeared puzzled by Duke's words.

"Are you saying there's corruption in the tournament?"

"The concept of corruption doesn't apply. All available forces are allowed. Including those to determine the winner."

"My goodness."

Knowing the true nature of the Draker Martial Tournament, Sieg was left in deep thought.

Initially, he thought he could just win somehow, but seeing Duke's expression suggested it wasn't that straightforward.

'The family head didn't give this task lightly.'

At that moment, Duke told Sieg, "Sieg, I'll be straightforward. Without a sponsoring family, enduring the tournament is difficult."

Hearing this, Sieg's face darkened, realizing he had achieved much within Draker without a sponsoring family, which was already remarkable.

Sieg asked Duke, "Isn't there some way with your connections, master?"

Duke shook his head.

"Handling practical matters is one thing, but the political aspects of the tournament are beyond me. Besides, I've been away from the family for a long time."

In essence, he needed a sponsoring family.

Additionally, Duke, starting from a commoner and rising to a black knight, was distanced from sponsoring families.

With an unexpected problem arising, Sieg felt a headache coming on.

'I'm really not good at these things.'

While in his previous life he had endured through hardships and battles, politics was not his forte.

Duke downed another drink and said, "I'll reach out to some families I know, so let's see. There's still some time until the tournament."

Sieg nodded.

He planned to rest in his room for a while before resuming his training.

However, as soon as he entered his room, someone followed him.

"Decker?"

It was the attendant, Decker, who approached Sieg.

"Young lord, I have something to tell you."

Seeing Decker's serious expression, Sieg was surprised. He decided to hear him out first.

"Sure, what is it?"

"I overheard your conversation with Duke earlier. I heard you'll participate in the Draker Martial Tournament."

Sieg nodded.

"Yes. But without a sponsoring family, it's challenging, according to Master."

After a moment of contemplation, Decker said to Sieg, "Young lord, please take a look at this."

Decker suddenly drew his sword.

Woong!

An aura blade distinctly appeared from his sword.

Though Sieg knew Decker was at the blue knight level, he feigned ignorance.

"D-Decker, you're a blue knight?"

Decker replied, "I know you've noticed already."

Acknowledging Decker's words, Sieg felt slightly embarrassed.

'He does catch on quickly, indeed.'

Decker bowed his head to Sieg.

"Thank you for trusting me despite knowing I was a blue knight, young lord."

Sieg felt a slight twinge of guilt because he had once wondered if Decker was a spy sent by other direct siblings.

Decker slowly began to speak.

"Actually, I was a knight belonging to the Draker family."

'I knew it. He wasn't just any ordinary attendant.'

"Why are you telling me this, Decker?"

"It's to talk about your mother, young lord."

At the mention of his mother, Sieg frowned.

'Mother...'

Sieg had almost no memories of his mother, as she passed away shortly after he was born.

As a child, he was raised by a nanny, and at the age of seven, he entered the Cradle, training alongside other Draker blood relatives, which kept him busy during his childhood.

Therefore, Sieg had no recollections of his mother.

"This is the first time someone has mentioned my mother. When I was little, no matter how much I fussed at my nanny, it was no use. No one else talked about her, either."

Decker responded, "I was one of the escort knights protecting your lady mother."

"You were my mother's escort knight?"

"Yes. That was my duty after becoming a high-ranking knight in Draker."

Sieg was surprised to learn that Decker held the status of a high-ranking knight in Draker.

He was aware of Decker's capabilities but hadn't realized he held such a position.

Decker continued to explain.

"There is a reason no one in Draker speaks of your lady mother."

"And that reason is?"

"It's because of her family."

"Her family? Wasn't my mother a commoner?"

Decker shook his head.

"Her family was... once the most influential among Draker's allied families. Even more so than Turunn or Zimmens."

This revelation astonished Sieg.

"Then, why is it now forgotten? And why does no one want to mention it?"

Decker somberly replied, "Because unpleasant rumors spread about her family."

"What? Just because of rumors?"

Sieg was at a loss.

He couldn't fathom how a once-great family could be forgotten because of unpleasant rumors.

With a serious expression, Decker said, "To be precise, people feared them. They avoided them, calling them a cursed family."

"A curse?"

Indeed, curses existed.

Even in the south, the Scorpion Clan utilized curse magic to kill and torment people.

However, the curse Decker mentioned appeared to be different.

"What kind of curse was it?"

"The family's children perished."

"The children?"

Decker nodded gravely.

"Yes. Pregnant women gave birth to stillborns, and children who were born died before reaching the age of five."

"Without exception?"

Sieg was dumbfounded.

Decker nodded solemnly and continued, "Only one person survived and grew up - your lady mother."

Sieg gave a knowing nod.

'I suppose the reputation due to curses can be more feared... Especially up north, where people are gullible to superstition.'

Sometimes, these superstitions wielded greater power than dark magic.

Initially, simple curiosity turned into suspicion due to a series of inexplicable events.

In time, suspicion morphed into fear.

Sieg looked at Decker and said, "Decker, are you suggesting I use this cursed family as my sponsoring family?"

Decker nodded.

"Once, it was the most prestigious family in the Central Continent. Additionally, young lord, you possess the qualifications as the sole heir of that family."

"Hmm."

A family once allied with Draker and the most formidable, yet now forgotten by all.

For Sieg, merely needing a nominal sponsoring family, it was perfectly suitable.

Sieg asked Decker, "So, what's the name of my mother's family?"

Decker slowly spoke.

"The family name is..."

He stated clearly, "Agamemnon."