Chapter 17

Episode 17. Single-Plank Bridge Duel (3)

Second Ground Shooting Range.

Keter, holding the pitch-black bow Amaranth, repeatedly drew and released the bowstring.

In front of him were numerous types of targets, but none were hit. Keter was only drawing the bowstring without any arrows.

Suddenly, Keter threw Amaranth to the ground.

“Ugh, the balance is completely messed up!”

Amaranth trembled on the ground, as if protesting, and spat out its thoughts.

[I was never designed to use ordinary arrows. My body is optimized for my exclusive arrows, ‘Mana Arrows.’ Surely, you don’t plan to not use them?]

“Why wouldn’t I use them? Of course, I will. But I’ll use regular arrows more often.”

[Even so, why judge me without even shooting an arrow?]

“I can visualize everything just by drawing the bowstring. The trajectory and speed of the arrow.”

[That’s ridiculous. Are you saying you’re a Divine Archer?]

“Anyway, can’t you change your body?”

[If you sacrifice 10 years of your life, it might be possible.]

“Stop talking. For now, you’re just a convenient and ridiculously sturdy bow.”

Even with that alone, it was worthy of being called a treasure, but it didn’t satisfy Keter, who had used countless Artifacts.

Keter reached out his hand towards Amaranth. Then, Amaranth was sucked into his hand as if drawn by his palm. It was the ‘retrieval’ function, a basic feature of most Artifacts.

With Amaranth in hand, Keter had no more business at the shooting range. He had come to test Amaranth’s performance, and he had done so sufficiently.

“Hop, hop!”

At that moment.

A group of soldiers was running towards the shooting range from afar. Keter could have ignored them, but his experience told him this wasn’t a coincidence.

‘They know I’m here.’

He had already sensed that he was being watched.

In fact, the watchers were almost openly observing him. He let them be, not just because the House of Sephira had the right to do so, but because it was better that way.

‘Watch closely. See what kind of person I am.’

Those coming now were clearly enemies. Allies with good intentions wouldn’t want to have a conversation on this dirt ground.

Keter didn’t refuse those who came to him, so he waited for them.

‘The ones coming now are too cute to be called enemies. A quarrel? Not even that. A performance would be more appropriate.’

Keter, who showed no mercy to enemies in Ruquer…

‘Be grateful you’re family.’

Broadly speaking, they would become his forces in the future, so he was willing to be lenient. Of course, he would also show that crossing the line would not be tolerated.

Keter slung Amaranth over his shoulder and waited for the soldiers. Soon, the soldiers came up the hill.

‘Huh?’

Keter’s eyes narrowed as he saw the soldiers.

It was because of the woman leading them. Her strong, unadorned physique and demeanor clearly indicated she was a knight.

‘Was there a female knight in the House of Sephira?’

Keter had an excellent memory, remembering what he ate and how it tasted on his third birthday.

But this was the first time he heard of a female knight in the House of Sephira.

‘It’s impossible that I never encountered her in my past life. Oh, could it be?’

Keter had a guess as to why there was no female knight in his memories.

Soon, the group led by the female knight spotted Keter and stopped in front of him. The female knight shouted in a loud voice.

“Everyone, line up!”

At her command, the soldiers neatly formed two lines and stood at attention. The female knight stepped forward and spoke.

“Excuse me. Are you Lord Keter?”

Despite her appearance, Catherine’s voice was refreshing. Her tone seemed more friendly than hostile, but Keter responded indifferently.

“Affiliation and name.”

“Huh?”

“If you’re going to ask someone’s identity, introduce yourself first.”

Catherine, who had led the soldiers to Keter, fell silent for a moment and looked at him. He was completely different from the image she had imagined.

He had a lean, muscular build without any excess, and even in a relaxed stance, there was no sense of vulnerability.

Moreover, the relaxed attitude and aura emanating from him were something Catherine had never experienced before.

Catherine formally introduced herself.

“I am Catherine, vice-captain of the 17th Star Brigade Knight Order.”

“Catherine, huh.”

Keter mulled over the knight’s name. No matter how much he thought, it was a name he had never heard before. But as he mentioned earlier, he had a guess.

It was not long after he joined the House of Sephira in his past life. There was an incident where a knight died during an operation, and he remembered an elder who was particularly saddened by it.

Keter casually asked.

“What’s your relationship with Elder Panir?”

Catherine blinked. Why was he suddenly asking about her relationship with Elder Panir? It was a surprise question that could easily lead to a mistake, but Catherine answered as if it were nothing.

“Elder Panir is the one who gave me the opportunity to become a knight.”

“So, you’re loyal to Elder Panir, not the House of Sephira?”

“I don’t understand what difference you’re talking about. To me, they are the same.”

Keter stroked his chin at Catherine’s bold statement.

‘She doesn’t fit in with the House of Sephira.’

At first glance, it was obvious. Catherine was the complete opposite of the stuffy and reticent Sephira.

“I see. Why did you come to find me?”

Naive people start with lies. But Catherine didn’t change her expression and spoke.

“I came to make a request to Lord Keter.”

“This popularity of mine never cools down. The date requests never end.”

Even at Keter’s nonsense, Catherine shook her head and said.

“Please behave. That’s my request.”

“A quiet date?”

“If you promise to behave, I might consider it.”

“Did Panir tell you to do this?”

“Answer me. If you promise to behave, I’ll leave as I am.”

Seeing Catherine firmly stating her piece, Keter got to the point.

“What if I say no?”

In fact, Keter already knew. He had seen Catherine’s type before. These types like things to be straightforward.

“I will request a duel.”

As expected, Catherine said what Keter had predicted. He felt intrigued by her.

‘Fools like her are easy to handle. Just like Taragon.’

It was a similar yet different kind of foolishness. Taragon was a genuine fool who spoke without thinking, while Catherine was a fool who pretended to be light-hearted but was anything but in her actions.

‘Now I see why she died.’

She probably had a good influence on the House of Sephira. Too good of an influence.

That’s why she was killed. Before anyone else.

“A duel, huh? Do you think I’ll go easy on you because you’re a woman? I might strip you naked and humiliate you.”

“You can handle me however you want. But I won’t engage in a physical fight with you. I am a knight of Sephira. I can’t injure you, a member of the Sephira family.”

“Such lukewarm values.”

“Will you accept the duel? If not, please behave for the sake of the House of Sephira.”

“You know what a hummingbird is? It dies if it stays still. I’m that kind of person. Telling me to stay still is like telling me to die.”

Catherine didn’t know what a hummingbird was, but she understood Keter’s words.

“Then I will request a duel with you. If I win, you must behave, no matter how hard it is.”

“You’re lucky. I accept all challenges. But nothing is free. There must be a prize if I win.”

Keter pointed at Catherine with his finger.

“If I win, you’re mine.”

“……!”

At Keter’s declaration, the soldiers who had followed without understanding stirred. It was essentially implying that Catherine would become his slave.

Then, Keter drove the point home.

“Let me make it clear. If I win, you become my slave. A slave who must obey me absolutely.”

Keter made sure there was no misunderstanding.

No matter how much Catherine was a knight, she was still a woman. To tell her to become a slave was naturally humiliating and infuriating.

But Catherine calmly nodded.

“You can refuse my duel request, but if you accept it, I will gladly do so.”

That’s right.

Keter could ignore Catherine’s duel request. Then, things would get complicated for Catherine, but Keter would suffer no loss. Of course, Catherine had plans for when Keter refused.

She turned to the soldiers who had followed her and said.

“You all heard that, right? The conversation between me and Lord Keter.”

The soldiers, not being fools, had already grasped the situation.

“Yes!”

“From now on, I will duel with Lord Keter. I want you all to be witnesses.”

Catherine turned her gaze to Keter.

“Lord Keter. Will you swear to the promises we just made in front of the soldiers? Of course, I will also swear.”

To swear.

It is a sacred and solemn ritual. If broken, one must apologize with death or live a life more humiliating than death.

Therefore, swearing is not something to be taken lightly, but Keter placed his right hand on his chest and spoke too easily.

“I swear on my heart and the eyes of Sephira. If I lose in this duel, I will leave the House of Sephira.”

“You don’t have to leave. Please retract that.”

“It’s my decision. You should swear quickly too. The sun is setting.”

Catherine, avoiding the curve of her chest, placed her right hand below her chest, on her solar plexus, and spoke.

“I swear on my knightly beliefs and loyalty to Sephira, to Queen Lilian. If I lose in this duel with Lord Keter, I will become his slave.”

The soldiers clearly heard the two’s oaths.

The soldiers were uneasy. They had heard rumors about Keter. A powerhouse who defeated Anis. Even though Anis was in the worst condition.

Anis was still a 1-star knight, and even if Catherine was a 2-star knight, there was no certainty. Battles aren’t decided solely by the total amount of strength.

Of course, the soldiers trusted their superior, Catherine. They knew well that she had excellent leadership and was strong in actual combat.

But that didn’t mean they felt she could definitely win against Keter.

This unease of the soldiers was palpable even to Catherine and Keter.

“Then, let me explain the Single-Plank Bridge Duel to you, Lord Keter.”

At Catherine’s words, the soldiers’ expressions brightened rapidly. Catherine had proposed a duel but hadn’t specified what kind. Now, she had naturally decided on it.

‘Single-Plank Bridge’ Duel.

With this duel, she could win.

Catherine against Anis, and Keter!

‘Undefeated.’

In this Single-Plank Bridge Duel, Catherine had never lost to anyone except the captains.