REAPER SCANS
Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan
[Translator – Mr. Ghost]
[Proofreader – Nine ]
Chapter 96 - Flash Yaksha (1)
The Camellia Palace was growing increasingly crowded due to Cecilia’s new business.
“So, let’s adjust this design to…”
“Where did the tailor go?”
“The fit isn’t right! Go grab some pins!”
“You know the things on shelf C31?! Go grab—huh? Another team already took it? You idiot! I told you to call dibs on it!”
“Where’s the model? She said she’d be here already! Send someone to find her! Clock’s ticking, people!”
With how many people were coming in and out of the palace, it was hard to recognize who was who. The maids and butlers tried their best to stay out of the way. Their only job was to bring the guests snacks and refreshments.
“This place just keeps getting busier by the day,” Kirson said, chuckling in disbelief. She was here with her workshop staff to deliver an order, but not a single servant had come to the door to greet her.
Cecilia’s business was still in its early stages. Kirson wondered if it was all right for her to be so busy already.
‘I believe she said that she’s extra busy finishing the suits and dresses for the event at the Daffodil Palace,’ Kirson recalled.
The clothes she saw in passing were all made from the best materials with the most stunning designs. Even Kirson, who had a very refined taste, couldn’t help but be impressed.
Her only concern was the sales method. No matter how high quality the products were, it would all be useless without good advertisement, and haute couture was especially susceptible to word of mouth.
Procuring and satisfying the first few clients was a matter of life or death for a business.
‘Thanks to Theo’s reputation lately, I’m not too worried… but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any risks,’ Kirson mused, taking a puff from her pipe.
Eventually, Cecilia finally noticed her.
“I see you’ve arrived, Mother,” Cecilia greeted tiredly. Although the bags under her eyes were deep and pronounced, her eyes themselves were shining with vigor.
They were the same eyes Cecilia had worn when Kirson first discovered her on stage. The same look that she had fallen in love with long ago.
“I brought the items you requested… but you know that you’ve almost exhausted the payment you gave me, right?” Kirson said. “You should know better than anyone that I don’t take IOUs”
“Yes, I’m aware. In a few days, a major high society event will be taking place. We’re launching our store then. Once orders start coming in, we’ll finally have some positive cash flow. We’re already getting price inquiries.”
“I see. It looks like you’re handling things, so I won’t nag.”
Cecilia was doing a remarkable job for her first foray into business. However, like any parent, it was hard for Kirson to not worry.
Cecilia smiled. She understood how Kirson felt. “I promise I won’t work myself too hard,” she said. “And if any trouble arises, I promise I’ll ask you for advice, Mother.”
Another common sentiment parents held was that they didn’t mind if their child acted cute even after they had already grown up.
Feeling a little embarrassed, Kirson cleared her throat to cover her involuntary smile. “If you insist,” she said.
Then, she quickly changed the subject, recalling something important.
“Right. Is it okay for you to remain here?”
Cecilia tilted her head. “Is something wrong? Oh, did you finish treating the soldiers Theo requested?”
“I’m still in the process of reconnecting their nerves, but it’s going smoothly. Regardless, that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean the news about the Rose Palace.”
“The Rose Palace…?” Cecilia repeated, looking a little shaken.
“So, you weren’t paying attention to the news. Even though your son sits at the center of it.”
Cecilia gripped Kiron’s hands tightly. “Oh no!” she cried. “Nothing bad had happened to Theo, right?”
“Ouch! Let go of me first!” Kirson scolded. “Besides, I’ve told you time and time again, he’s slyer than any snake I’ve ever seen! As if he’d let anything bad befall him.”
“Then…”
“This morning, he executed Aimil. And he’s charged the central director with treason.”
“...!”
After taking a moment to take a puff of her pipe, Kirson continued. “Beyond that, things are a mess. You should be careful. Quite a few people might come after you.”
“I see. However, does that mean Theo is unharmed?”
“Huh?” Kirson blinked in surprise. “Well, I haven’t heard otherwise.”
Cecilia’s reaction was far different from what Kirson had expected. She thought Cecilia would be thrilled to hear the news, but she seemed apathetic instead.
“That’s good to hear. Thank you for telling me. I have a meeting to attend, so I need to head back inside,” Cecilia said. Then, she bowed before taking her leave.
Her attitude was the same as always.
At a loss for words, Kirson simply stood there, scratching the back of her head.
* * *
‘So, Aimil died…’
On her way to the meeting room, Cecilia’s head buzzed with conflicting thoughts. She had tried her best to pretend that nothing was wrong in front of Kirson, but that was far from the truth.
In fact, she didn’t even have a meeting to attend.
‘Aimil is dead…’
After ordering everyone to stay out, Cecilia sat alone in an empty meeting room and hid her face in her hands. The hardships she had to endure because of Aimil and her son started flashing through her mind.
She had cut off ties with her mother and joined the Rose Palace purely out of love for Kyle, yet malicious rumors had spread, calling her a temptress and a harlot. Theo was ostracized for his lack of excellence as a child, causing others to point fingers and call him an imbecile. Then, to top it all off, the Central Intelligence Bureau made numerous assassination attempts to chase her and Theo out of the Rose Palace.
In order to protect Theo, she had walked a tightrope of knives every single day.
That pressure was what had driven her to be so hard on him.
“I may be a powerless mother, but if I die, you will have no one to protect you. What will you do then?” she used to tell him.
She couldn’t remember when it had started, but her instincts had told her that she didn't have long to live. She didn’t know if she would die by assassination or succumb to some “mysterious” illness, but the constant threat of death loomed over her.
It was an unavoidable feeling with the dangers brewing around her and Theo. Sometimes, she had nightmares of being tied to a guillotine, framed for a crime she didn’t commit.
In those dreams, Theo always looked at her with such sad eyes.
She would go on to tell him, “My dear son. Do not follow the path of your flawed mother. Please find happiness. I should have told you this long ago… I’m sorry it took me so long. So, please… Leave this place. Run away, my dear son.”
‘Theo changed what might have been my fate.’
Thinking about how hard Theo must have had to work to make all this happen, tears welled up in her eyes.
Out of the blue, someone handed her a handkerchief. “Please use this.”
“Head maid…?” Cecilia murmured. “But I explicitly ordered everyone to stay out.”
“Yes, and I had intended to, but...” The head maid smiled mirthlessly at the door. “Lady Kirson demanded that I bring this to you…”
“Oh.”
Cecilia recalled the bitter smile on Kirson’s face when she had bid her farewell earlier.
Her mother saw right through her poor daughter’s feelings.
Cecilia accepted the handkerchief from the head maid. Inside was a small note.
Do not cry. Tears do not befit you.
The only suitable expression you must adopt is the smile you wear when you torment me, your mother. Always act with confidence. Look down upon the world with arrogance.
That is when you shine the brightest.
That is what composes the sole daughter of I, the great Kirson.
A faint smile grew on Cecilia’s lips as she read the note. Then, when she reached the final line, she burst into laughter.
P.S. If you insist on crying, cry because you pity your mother getting shaken down by her dastardly grandson. That’s the only time I’ll let it slide.
‘I don’t think she’s joking about that,’ thought Cecilia.
However, the note gave her the strength to relinquish her heavy heart and stand back up. Before she knew it, she was no longer burdened by thoughts of Aimil and her son.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Nine]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
“The central director was plotting a coup!”
Hot on the heels of the rumors about Theo, a new rumor shook Wintera to the core: a rebellion had been orchestrated by one of the Nine Dragons.
The Central Intelligence Bureau was one of the core organizations of Ragnar. A rebellion involving them would have been a major crisis.
Some tried to brush it off as a false rumor, but their tune had shifted once the main gate of Wintera was embellished with decapitated heads.
Lining the gate were the heads of Aimil Troivan, the third wife of Kyle; Second Deputy Director Morgan alongside other high-ranking CIB executives; and Quodrak, the guildmaster of the Seres Merchant Guild, alongside other related personnel.
Blood dripped from the freshly severed heads, painting the entire area red.
The announcement posted below their heads outlined what had transpired clearly.
The above criminals had been conspiring with Ed Troivan, who is now a Class 1 criminal. They had been smuggling important intel regarding the Ragnar Clan, and…
However, the most shocking news was at the end of the announcement.
…We have determined that the great clan of the East, the Troivan Clan, and the heretics, the Holy Demon Church, are the masterminds behind this conspiracy.
“Wait, is this real?”
“The Troivan Clan and the Holy Demon Church were helping the Sky Dragon? So the Sky Dragon was their puppet all along?”
“What a disgusting rat…! How can he betray the good grace of the Ragnars?”
“I can understand the Sky Dragon siding with his home clan, but why the Holy Demon Church? They’re cultists labeled as heretics by the Imperial Palace! Did the Sky Dragon go mad or something?”
“Has the clan head said anything?”
A crowd was swarming in front of the posted announcement, and their numbers only continued to grow.
…We, the Ragnar Clan, ask the Troivan Clan and the Holy Demon Church:
What were you plotting here in Wintera? We will give you 72 hours to respond. Your answer will determine what you will face once the wrath of the Lord of the Winter Mountains descends upon you.
Everyone trembled at the declaration.
“War!”
“A war might break out!”
“The dragon’s fury shall send hellfire raining down upon the East!”
Turbulent winds blew forth, signaling the bloodbath that was soon to come.
* * *
The man behind the news that shook all of Wintera was none other than Theo.
When it was revealed that he was the one who had uncovered both Aimil and Ed’s schemes, new rumors about him started to spread.
“The Flash Yaksha is almost as close to the throne as the Five Major Candidates!”
Some even wondered if they needed to change the moniker to the Six Major Candidates.
While this was occurring, Theo, the man of the hour, was receiving some very unwelcome news.
“Ed Troivan has gone missing…?” he asked.
Evelyn responded with a heavy nod. “I just received word from Miss Kleve. The Black Dragon himself ambushed Ed’s whereabouts, but he was already long gone.”
“He left his own sister behind as bait to escape...”
They thought they were taking care of things before Ed could notice, but like a sly snake, he must have caught wind of their intentions and slipped away.
Theo couldn’t believe how much of a rotten wretch Ed was. No matter how cornered he might have been, how could he abandon his little sister and his subordinates?
‘I guess that’s why none of us had suspected he ran away.’
Ed must have considered them his sacrificial pawns from the beginning.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to Theo. ‘Wait. Then, maybe…’
“For now, the Black Snow is in pursuit, so let’s wait until we hear more—is something wrong?”
“Armory #1!” Theo exclaimed. “What’s the status of the armory that only the clan head has access to?”
Evelyn wondered why Theo was suddenly asking about the armory, but she knew that he must have had a reason for it.
“I’ll look into it,” she told him.
A few moments later…
“A big fire broke out, and they’re having trouble putting it out,” Evelyn reported. “How did you know?”
Theo facepalmed. ‘I’m too late.’
Armory #1 held the ‘Dragon Savior Ghost Sword’ that he had heard about in his vision. Ed had long since planned to ransack the place.
The dire situation must have made Ed prioritize collecting the relics.
‘Fortunately, the ring and the earring are in my possession, but I still need to get that sword back.’
As Theo was lost in thought…
[Quest received.]
[Scenario Quest #3
The dark ties of your past life have run away with a relic you require. However, you are not yet strong enough to take the relic back. Gain the approval of the two relics you have recently acquired to level up.
· Progress: 0/2
· Difficulty: A+
· Reward: Ownership over the two relics
· Penalty: Death]
With the onset of the quest, Theo’s inventory started shaking as if something demanded to be released.
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