Chapter 116

Chapter 116. Anticipation is the Root of a Gift (5)

Main Building Banquet Hall.

Five people were seated at a table.

At the head of the table sat Lord Basil, with Panir to his left and Leganon to his right. Next to Leganon, Mail sat with a respectful posture.

“…….”

Everyone was staring blankly into space, but Panir’s face began to twist slightly.

*Swoosh.*

Panir pulled out a pocket watch to check the time, then flinched. He shot a glance at Basil for no reason.

*Knock knock.* The sound of someone lightly tapping on the door drew everyone’s attention. From outside, Anis’s voice could be heard.

“It’s Anis. Taragon and Keter are with me. May we come in?”

“Come in.”

With Basil’s permission, the door opened. They hadn’t had time to change into formal attire, but it was clear they had done their best to tidy up.

“Follow my lead, Keter.”

Anis, three steps ahead, straightened his left hand and clenched his right fist against his stomach, then bowed deeply.

“Apologies for being late, Lord. Elders. Brother. Thank you for waiting, Lord. Elders. Brother.”

He bowed first to the Lord, then raised his head after speaking. He bowed again to the elders, stood up, and then bowed to Mail.

Anis, who had bowed six times in apology and gratitude, took a seat next to Panir.

He was extremely careful not to make a sound as he sat down. Even after sitting, he maintained a still posture.

“Phew.”

Anis had taken his seat. Seeing this, Taragon licked his dry lips and followed suit, eventually sitting next to Leganon.

It was Keter’s turn.

Panir was smiling particularly meaningfully.

*Swoosh.*

Keter began to walk.

Two steps, three steps…….

He didn’t stop and kept walking.

Everyone’s gaze followed Keter’s movements. Eventually, he faced the front.

With a thud, Keter noisily sat down in the empty seat next to Anis and pulled his chair in tightly.

*Creak.*

“…….”

Leganon covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, while Panir’s face turned red.

Anis urgently scolded Keter.

“Keter, what are you doing? Apologize and thank the elders who waited for us.”

“Huh? Did I go senile? Did anyone know there was a family meeting at this time today?”

“I didn’t hear about it in advance either. But the Lord and elders, who are seniors, waited for us. It’s only proper to apologize and thank them. That’s the etiquette of nobility and the rule of House Sephira.”

If you’re a member of House Sephira, follow House Sephira’s rules. Anis’s request was reasonable. Especially since Panir liked it.

But Keter snorted.

“I came right when I was called, so what’s there to apologize for? The ones who were free came early and waited. Don’t talk nonsense.”

It was an answer unbecoming of nobility. But it was a very Keter-like answer.

At that moment, an enraged Panir slammed the table and stood up.

“You brat! If you have no intention of following etiquette and rules, you will never be allowed to use House Sephira’s castle!”

“Is that the elder’s thought, or the Lord’s will?”

“I told you not to call me elder.”

“Answer my question. Keter of Sephira is very tired right now, his mind is all over the place, and Ruquer’s Keter is about to come out.”

“What? Ruquer? What’s that?”

Panir looked at Basil.

Basil didn’t hide his troubled expression. He intended to keep the secret of Keter’s birth in Ruquer hidden as long as possible. There was no reason to reveal it.

But Keter had outright said it.

Panir’s outburst was within expected limits. Keter had already shown enough that he wouldn’t bow to authority or be bound by rules.

Basil cleared his throat and spoke.

“It’s true. Keter was brought from Ruquer. I apologize for hiding it, but I believe you’ll understand it was the best choice.”

Since this was a private family meeting and not a public gathering, Basil tried to keep the atmosphere as relaxed as possible.

The usual Panir would have been furious, but after experiencing a series of events, he suppressed his temper and said,

“That, I can understand. But Keter’s arrogance is something I can’t comprehend. Didn’t we agree to discipline him during the tournament? And you didn’t ignore my words, did you?”

“No. As promised, we disciplined him. After that, we met and told Keter to respect each other.”

“Then why is he ignoring House Sephira? Was he mocking you?”

Keter answered that.

“Wow, listening to this is really annoying. I just told the truth, but it seems the elder just dislikes me and is looking for excuses. The Lord is here, Elder Leganon is here. Or maybe, you want to show off in front of your grandsons.”

“…….”

Panir glared at Keter as if daring him to say more. Keter wasn’t one to back down.

“The Lord is silent, Elder Leganon is silent. Why is Elder Panir the only one not reading the room and making a scene? It seems Elder Panir is the only one who doesn’t understand the influence I have on House Sephira… I can’t explain it myself, so let’s just do this.”

Keter stood up.

“Let’s settle this cleanly by taking off our rank insignias.”

The expressions of three people stiffened. Mail, Anis, and Taragon. On the other hand, Leganon silently laughed.

Basil gave Leganon a look and said,

“Keter, no matter what, how can you speak so rudely to your granduncle? The same goes for you, Uncle. Why are you scolding a child raised in the Lawless City so harshly? I want to tell both of you to apologize and end this, but…….”

Keter and Panir have something in common.

They can’t be persuaded by words.

Basil knew that scolding wouldn’t solve the issue. He just wondered how Keter, who wasn’t bound by rules, would take it. He felt both anticipation and worry.

“It’s shameful for family members to fight over personal feelings. But since neither of you will back down, let’s settle this according to House Sephira’s tradition—through a duel ritual.”

“House tradition? Duel ritual?”

Keter showed interest, while Panir scoffed.

“You want me to do that with this brat?”

“What’s a duel ritual? I’d like to know too.”

Basil spoke with a serious face.

“Arm wrestling.”

“…….”

“It’s the best way to resolve issues by testing each other’s will and strength, with minimal risk of injury.”

“Why arm wrestling of all things? It’s so random.”

“Don’t archers use their arms to draw and shoot bows? For an archer, the left arm is the heart, and the right arm is the soul. Arm wrestling is a sacred ritual and duel where archers stake everything. In House Sephira, all petty disputes are resolved through arm wrestling.”

The two elders, as well as Taragon, Anis, and Mail, all nodded in deep agreement.

Even the strict Keter nodded.

“Listening to that, it makes sense.”

“Keter. If you lose, you must strive to learn and practice etiquette and rules. The same goes for you, Uncle. Please respect and understand the environment Keter was born and raised in. Do either of you have any objections?”

House tradition or not, arm wrestling was still a contest. Keter wasn’t one to refuse. He rolled up his sleeves, showing enthusiasm.

“Just so you know, I won’t go easy.”

“Cheeky brat. At your age, I was in the middle of a battlefield.”

Amid the heated tension between the two, Basil spoke to Taragon.

“Move that vase over there and bring the side table.”

“Yes.”

Taragon brought the side table. Keter and Panir faced each other.

“I’ll be the main referee. The Lord will be the assistant referee, and Mail, Anis, and Taragon will observe as third referees.”

Leganon volunteered to be the main referee according to House tradition. But in truth, he just wanted to watch closely.

Leganon proceeded with the duel ritual.

“Before we begin the duel ritual, Keter and Elder Panir, both of you must swear. Swear that you will humbly accept the outcome and keep your promises.”

“I swear on my heart.”

*Thud!*

Keter was the first to place his arm on the side table.

Panir followed suit, placing his arm on the side table and saying,

“I swear on my soul.”

“Both of you have sworn, so join hands.”

Leganon held their hands and brought them together.

Panir’s eyebrows raised.

‘How can such rough palms exist? And this firmness. What kind of life did he live to have palms like this at his age?’

Panir knew. Keter’s strength, his unseasoned experience despite his age.

But he thought it was the arrogance of a genius. After all, he had never seen Keter properly train in House Sephira.

‘Visible muscles aren’t everything. Even without exerting full strength, this level of pressure… His arrogance isn’t just bravado. But to think he can beat me in arm wrestling…’

Panir rolled up his sleeve. A forearm as thick as Keter’s head was revealed.

Though over 70 years old, he had become a 5-Star Master at 40, and his physical age hadn’t left its prime. Moreover, Panir had consistently trained despite his busy life.

Furthermore, Panir was a ‘natural strongman’. At 20, he had won a tug-of-war against four horses using pure strength.

‘I’ll smash that smug face of yours, Keter.’

Leganon looked at the confident Panir and the relaxed Keter.

Leganon knew well about Panir’s strength. But he also felt that Keter’s calmness wasn’t mere bravado.

Who would win? Even Leganon couldn’t guess.

“Ready, begin.”

*Boom!*

As soon as it began, the side table exploded, leaving only the base. The table couldn’t handle the two’s strength.

Keter and Panir’s hands trembled in mid-air.

“Ohoho!”

Leganon exclaimed in admiration.

Both were bent over, arm wrestling, yet neither’s posture faltered. They continued their struggle in that state.

The outcome wasn’t clear. The two seemed frozen in time, not moving an inch.

But upon closer inspection, their arms were tilting ever so slightly. Their strength was evenly matched.

Then, a strange sound came from Panir’s arm.

*Crack crack crack!*

Panir’s body was growing. The sound of his muscles expanding and tearing his clothes.

‘Natural strongmen’ can temporarily amplify their strength dozens of times. It’s not a supernatural ability, but it’s certainly a special one.

*Creak creak creak!*

Keter’s hand began to be pushed back. But instead of frowning, he smiled even brighter.

Keter’s hand, which was being pushed back, slowed. Then, it began to push Panir’s hand back.

He had unleashed his ‘Heavenly Power’.

*Thud thud thud!*

The ground began to shake. The sheer strength of the two was affecting the floor.

Keter’s momentum pushing Panir back didn’t last. It stopped right in the middle. Their joined arms trembled violently.

*Crack!*

The floor showed signs of collapsing.

At that moment, Basil stepped in and separated the two.

Keter, who had stepped back, spoke first.

“Ah, just a little more and I would’ve won. Lucky you, old man.”

“That’s my line. One second later and you’d be smashed into the ground.”

Keter and Panir both looked at Basil.

“The assistant referee, Father, intervened, so that means the outcome is decided, right? Who won?”

“Ha! Obviously, I won. Basil just spared you the embarrassment!”

Both were confident of their victory.

Basil shook his head.

“It’s a draw.”

Panir wasn’t one to accept such an ambiguous result. He immediately got angry.

“A draw?! Elder Leganon, you were close, so you saw it, right? I was slightly ahead. Mail, Anis, Taragon. From your perspective, who seemed more at ease?”

The calm Leganon spoke first.

“From my view, both were evenly matched. I agree with the assistant referee’s call for a draw.”

Panir then looked at his grandsons, his eyes filled with silent expectation.

The eldest, Mail, spoke first.

“I’m sorry to say this, but from my perspective, it was evenly matched as well. My apologies.”

Anis and Taragon said the same.

It wasn’t a false testimony. They truly didn’t feel one side had the upper hand. If Basil hadn’t intervened, there might have been a clear winner, but since he stopped it in the middle, a draw was natural.

Basil continued to mediate.

“There will be no rematch. This isn’t a place for strength contests. Since it’s a draw, let’s agree to compromise. Keter, showing respect isn’t about the other being stronger or older. It’s about mutual respect. Just as I respect your beliefs, you should respect our customs. Uncle, Keter is still young. He’s lived his entire life in the Lawless City, where survival of the fittest is the only rule. Don’t try to forcefully suppress a child raised in a world where everything is free. The more you suppress, the harder he’ll push back.”

It was both a father’s plea and a Lord’s request.

The tension in the air dissipated. Keter scratched the back of his head and said,

“I was wrong for not greeting properly. I’m sorry. Father, elders.”

Even though Keter lived freely, he didn’t ignore the world’s rules. He knew that this world wasn’t about living alone, but together.

‘Tsk, I need to end this sleepless training. My nerves are on edge.’

The usual Keter wouldn’t have sat down without a word. He would have greeted warmly, joked about why they had to wait, and made a fuss.

But after over 40 days of sleepless training, his mind was more worn out than his body. Losing his temper over nothing wasn’t Keter’s style.

Seeing Keter readily admit his mistake surprised Anis and Taragon. They had expected him to say something like, “I don’t care, what are you gonna do about it?”

‘So Keter can apologize and compromise too.’

They had thought he only spoke the truth, but sometimes acted stubborn. Seeing this side of him made Keter seem different.

Panir also approached Keter first and extended his hand. It wasn’t hostility. It was a gesture of acknowledgment.

“You have the guts and strength to back up your big mouth. I apologize for thinking you were just a lucky brat.”

Keter took Panir’s hand.

Panir shook his hand slightly and said,

“Let’s have a proper match next time.”

“Next time, I won’t hold back.”

“Hahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

*Creak.*

A strange sound came from their joined hands.

Basil waved his hand.

“Keter, Uncle. That’s enough, take your seats. This is an order from your Lord.”

Panir reluctantly returned to his seat. Keter also quietly sat down next to Anis.

“Ahem. Let me explain why I suddenly called this family meeting. Anis and Taragon, I have something to tell you.”

Finally, they got to the main point. The heavy atmosphere from earlier was gone, replaced by a warm and stable feeling.

Anis and Taragon thought it wasn’t anything serious. After all, if it were serious, it wouldn’t be a family meeting, and they would have been called to the office, not the banquet hall.

The two thought Basil was going to praise them. Their training with Keter wasn’t a secret, so it was obvious they had noticeably improved.

Feeling excited, Taragon’s lips twitched, and Anis, though happy, didn’t show it on his face.

Finally, Basil spoke.

“Withdraw from the Southern Sword Tournament.”