Chapter 14

Episode 14. The Second Client (2)

“Archers focus solely on building upper body strength. It’s only natural. In war, the main goal of an archer is to shoot quickly and accurately from a fixed position, so there’s no need to train the lower body. But now, we have many enemies. There’s no one to protect us. We must learn to fight on our own and focus on shooting while moving.”

Taragon’s mouth dropped open.

Keter was three years younger than him. No matter how harshly Keter grew up in the Lawless City, the gap in their perspectives was immense.

What kind of life had he lived to be able to speak so fluently and confidently? Taragon no longer saw Keter as his younger brother.

“That’s why running is essential training for the House of Sephira. You can train both your lower body and stamina. Of course, you’re probably doing it now, but at best, it’s just a warm-up. First, build the stamina to run all day, then move on to shooting while moving.”

If Keter had to choose between training and actual combat, he would, of course, choose combat.

But only one in a hundred survives and grows stronger in combat. The chances of Taragon being that one were extremely slim.

Of course, if Keter watched over him, the odds would increase significantly, but Keter didn’t care for Taragon that much.

“Do you need more reasons to run around the training ground?”

“I get it. I’ll run from sunrise to sunset, build up my stamina, and then learn to shoot while moving.”

“There should be manuals on shooting while moving in Sephira, so don’t bother coming to me. And don’t skip running even for a day. No matter what happens, you must run. Even if it rains, even if you’re sick, even if your mind is all over the place, run.”

“Huh? That’s a bit…”

“You can do it. You won’t die. I know because I’ve done it.”

“But I heard that pushing too hard can backfire and harm your body…”

“That’s a reaction that happens when you give up just before your limit. You have to push past that limit to grow stronger. By the way, the moment you ignore my words, you’re no longer my client.”

Taragon gulped. The thought of even Keter turning his back on him was already terrifying.

“Alright, I’ll run even if it kills me.”

Keter, pleased with Taragon’s quick response, decided to throw in an extra service.

“Taragon. Given our family’s nature, I think your father or brother must have given you some tasks. But you seem completely idle. What’s going on?”

Taragon racked his brain and finally recalled a distant memory.

“Umm… Ah! Hisop once told me to guard the house. Is that relevant?”

“So, they entrusted you with the family’s security. What did you do?”

“Family security? I was supposed to be responsible for that? I thought Hisop was just saying it in passing, like a formality.”

“Since no one in the family said anything about the security, that thought became even more ingrained, right?”

Keter’s words, as if he knew everything, sent chills down Taragon’s spine.

“…Yeah.”

“Wrong. They deliberately didn’t say anything to show they trusted you. They thought you had some plan, that you were doing something.”

From an outsider’s perspective, it made no sense. But for the House of Sephira, it was entirely possible.

Keter tapped the table with his finger, thought for a moment, and then spoke.

“The knights and soldiers in charge of the family’s security must have been briefed. They’ll follow your orders. Check it out today.”

“What if they don’t? Won’t they think I’m a fool?”

“If they don’t, then they don’t. Those who question you are of no help to your life, so ignore them.”

“Okay.”

“If you’re the security officer, you naturally have to take responsibility for the family’s security.”

After spending half the day running to build stamina, now he had to take charge of the security of this vast estate.

Taragon understood what was being said, but it felt overwhelmingly distant. He had never lived such a busy day before.

But Taragon couldn’t bring himself to say he didn’t understand. It wasn’t a matter of pride; Keter’s gaze was just too intense.

“Ah, I got it. I’ll take care of the family’s security too.”

“Of course you should. And…”

Keter pointed at the books filling the room with his finger.

“Throw them all away. You’re not versatile. Don’t waste your mind on useless knowledge.”

“I’ll burn them. They were bothering me anyway. But… what should I tell the others?”

“Solve at least one problem in your life on your own. You can do that, right?”

It was hard to tell who was the older brother and who was the younger. It should have felt insulting, but Taragon, already broken, scratched the back of his head and replied.

“Okay. I’ll talk to them.”

“I like how obedient you are.”

As Keter got up, Taragon followed suit.

“Are you leaving already?”

“Of course. You too, me too.”

“Why me?”

*Snap.*

Keter’s finger pointed to the window. Outside, there was nothing but the blue sky.

Taragon blinked, and Keter sighed.

“What did I say earlier? What did I tell you to do before sunset?”

“Run around the training ground… But you mean start right now?”

Taragon was still sore all over from being beaten by Keter. As if to emphasize this, he subtly revealed his bruised arm.

Keter raised his fist and said.

“Are you planning to rest and start tomorrow? Do you think the family’s crisis is a joke? Aren’t you going to run now?”

“Okay, okay. I’ll go.”

With that, Taragon, the master of the room, ran out first, and Keter followed at a leisurely pace.

The soldiers in the hallway, seeing this, wondered what had happened between Keter and Taragon but didn’t dare ask.

* * *

In the center of the Sephira family’s garden stood a bell tower.

It was only used during the evening curfew, so no one should have been there now, but a middle-aged man was pacing around below.

“Young master! How on earth did you get up there, and why? Come down… No, I’ll come up, so wait for me!”

The middle-aged man shouting towards the top of the bell tower was Jacques, the butler.

He stared blankly at the ladder leading to the top of the bell tower. The central bell tower was small, so there were no stairs. Only a vertical ladder.

The ladder was sturdy, but the problem was that Jacques had a severe fear of heights.

“I’m going crazy.”

Jacques looked up at the bell tower’s roof again. It was a dizzying height. It was undoubtedly much higher than the height humans fear the most.

Falling from there would mean instant death.

And yet, there was someone up there. Not on flat ground, but on the very narrow, precarious roof of the bell tower.

Keter was sitting there nonchalantly, as if on a picnic, looking around.

Those who hadn’t known Keter was on the bell tower’s roof now knew thanks to Jacques’ shouts.

“Is that a person?”

“I thought it was a flag.”

“He’s got guts.”

Keter heard the murmurs about him but let them go in one ear and out the other as he looked at the training ground.

He could clearly see Taragon running around the training ground. Despite panting heavily, he was running well without breaking his posture.

If left alone, he would become a disaster for the family, so it was better to work him to the bone so he couldn’t cause trouble, and as a bonus, use him as a pawn to break even.

“Save him, raise him. This much is fair exchange.”

There was another reason Keter had Taragon run around the training ground.

Keter wanted to roughly gauge how many spies were hidden within the family.

Even if they could avoid the eyes of the soldiers and knights, they couldn’t escape Keter’s.

‘They can’t hide from my eyes.’

It was all a bit of a surprise.

The House of Sephira had many enemies. It was only natural that spies were densely packed within to monitor their movements.

That didn’t mean the House of Sephira was unaware of the spies’ presence. They probably knew better than anyone.

‘They just don’t have the resources to root them out. So they just keep tabs on them. If they tried to eliminate them, the spies would just hide more carefully.’

In short, it was an uncomfortable coexistence.

Keter had sensed it as soon as he entered the House of Sephira. The sinister presence of spies lurking in the shadows throughout the territory.

But he hadn’t known how many there were until Taragon drew their attention, giving him a rough idea.

“It’s swarming.”

With this many spies, there were bound to be traitors.

“Now, it’s a matter of who they are.”

From lowly servants to high-ranking vassals or even family members, there could be traitors.

Finding them might be hard, but dealing with them was easy.

“When the situation changes, so will their hearts. Just kill the ones who aren’t loyal.”

Even if they were family, Keter made no exceptions.

At that moment, Jacques, who had overcome his fear of heights and climbed to the top of the bell tower, called out from below.

“Huff, huff, young master. Ugh, I’m here.”

Dizzy and clutching his head in pain, Jacques didn’t give up.

“Young master. I’ll stretch out my arm, so step on it… and come down.”

Jacques’ devotion, overcoming even his own fear, was admirable, but Keter clicked his tongue.

‘The old man is quite diligent. Even though he was ordered to take good care of me.’

Keter thought Jacques’ affection was due to the family head’s orders. In Keter’s unwavering belief, there was no such thing as a selfless favor in this world.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew. The bell tower’s flag flapped wildly.

At the same time, Keter’s body swayed. Seeing this, Jacques panicked.

“Whoa! Young master!”

To Jacques, it looked like Keter had lost his balance and was about to fall.

But Keter spun in mid-air, flipped his body, grabbed the edge of the roof, and landed safely on the ground.

The series of movements was so natural and fast that Jacques couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

“Huh?”

Staring dumbfounded at Keter, who had descended from the roof in the blink of an eye, Jacques was speechless. Keter winked at him and said.

“Did you come out for some fresh air? I’ve had enough, so I’ll head back first.”

Instead of climbing down the ladder, Keter slid down the sides of the ladder in an instant.

Left alone on the bell tower, Jacques clung to the railing and watched Keter leisurely head back to his quarters.

“Young master Keter is like the wind.”

He does what he wants without hiding it and goes where he wants.

To an outsider, he might seem carefree, but Jacques was worried.

“Nobility and freedom are opposites. I don’t think the young master will give up his freedom to live as a noble.”

Feeling overwhelmed, Jacques had no intention of giving up on Keter.

“The young master grew up alone in the Lawless City. Of course, a controlled life wouldn’t suit him. That’s why I need to work even harder.”

Despite his grand words, Jacques descended the ladder with trembling hands.