Chapter 120

Chapter 120. I’m Here (4)

The grand city under Lord Eslow’s direct jurisdiction, where the Southern Sword Tournament was being held, was already bustling with activity. As the residence of the Southern Lord, the city was packed with people.

The north gate, south gate, east gate, west gate… Every entrance was crowded with carriages and people, forming long lines.

“The Southern direct jurisdiction is much more magnificent than the East.”

“Are you from the East? You should visit the West sometime. The West’s direct jurisdiction is built on the largest river in our kingdom.”

“Ugh, a noble’s carriage. Everyone, step aside. Don’t get in trouble for blocking their way.”

The citizens of the kingdom, who had come from all over the country, stepped aside to let the carriages pass. If you blocked a noble’s carriage, even if you got run over, you wouldn’t receive any compensation.

“By the way, which family is that? I’ve never seen that crest before.”

“Are you blind? There’s only one place in our kingdom where knights handle bows and arrows.”

“Ah, the archery noble family, Sephira!”

“To think I’d live to see the House of Sephira participate in the Southern Sword Tournament. I wonder how an archer will fare among swordsmen… What do you think?”

People who saw the knights of Sephira began a heated discussion. For those who had to wait in line for a long time, it was a very entertaining topic.

Ignoring the long line, Sephira’s carriage stopped at the gate. The gatekeeper naturally welcomed them.

“Welcome to Lord Eslow’s direct jurisdiction. Are you from Sephira?”

“Didos, Captain of the 5th Division of the Lunar Knight Order.”

Didos handed over the invitation he had been holding. It was a lavish invitation stamped with Lord Eslow’s seal, inviting the House of Sephira to the Southern Sword Tournament.

After checking the contents and the seal, the gatekeeper nodded.

“I’ll need to inspect the carriage. It’s a standard procedure, so please bear with us.”

Didos then drove the carriage close and spoke through the window.

“Prince Mail. They want to inspect the carriage.”

“Let them.”

Mail, who had nothing to hide, closed the book he was reading and personally opened the carriage door. As soon as the gatekeeper saw Mail, he bowed deeply.

“Excuse me. Could you please tell me the names of the passengers?”

Mail’s eyebrow twitched. Normally, gatekeepers memorized the names of all the prominent families and their participants. But this soldier genuinely didn’t recognize anyone here.

It was understandable if he didn’t know Keter. He wasn’t on the participant list, and many still didn’t know he had joined the family.

But Mail was the second son of Sephira.

Moreover, the third and fourth sons were also here.

A gatekeeper who didn’t recognize the face of a prominent family’s second son? This was a grave insult. It was obvious he had memorized the faces and names of the direct descendants of other prominent families.

“……”

Mail took a deep breath.

This was blatant disrespect. Normally, he would have let it slide, but not anymore. Sephira had decided not to tolerate such behavior.

“…Mail El Sephira. Anis El Sephira, Taragon El Sephira. Keter El Sephira. Lady Catherine. Five in total.”

“Five confirmed. It’s an honor to hear your names.”

As the soldier tried to close the carriage door, Mail grabbed it and spoke.

“Wait. State your rank and name.”

“Yes, I’m Captain Nomider of the Eslow Direct Jurisdiction Peacekeeping Force.”

“Captain Nomider. If any official in this city fails to recognize our faces in the future, it will be considered an insult to Sephira. Especially you, you will definitely pay the price.”

“……!”

Nomider’s face turned pale. This was completely different from what he had heard.

‘They said Sephira wouldn’t say anything even if ignored…’

At Mail’s straightforward and clear warning, Nomider bowed deeply and shouted.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Go.”

Sephira’s carriage passed through the gate. Nomider immediately informed all communication networks of Sephira’s entry and broadcasted their descriptions.

Sephira’s attitude had changed. Captain Nomider clearly warned that ignoring them would lead to trouble.

* * *

The grand city under direct jurisdiction was divided into two areas.

The ‘Outer District,’ which was a general residential area as well as a commercial and industrial zone.

The ‘Central District,’ where cultural facilities, mansions for the upper class, and military facilities were concentrated.

Additionally, for the sake of aesthetics and cleanliness, the spacing between buildings was very wide, and lush trees were beautifully arranged. It was truly a grand city.

On the second-floor balcony of a café bathed in warm sunlight, a man in a white suit sipped coffee and checked the time on his wristwatch.

“A watch from the Baen Kingdom.”

At that moment, a man in a blue uniform approached. A splendid scabbard hung at his waist.

Carrying weapons in a city during a festival was impossible, even for nobles. However, it was tacitly allowed for those responsible for the city’s security or upper nobles.

The man in the white suit smiled and pointed to a chair.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

“I’m thinking of getting a Baen watch too. Pocket watches are such a hassle to take out, I sometimes forget the time.”

“It’s called a wristwatch. It’s still a prototype, so I wouldn’t recommend it. But if you want, I can get you one.”

“That’s good to hear. I’d like to show it off to my colleagues, so get me one.”

The two men were young and handsome with striking features. Their clothes were high-end without a single flaw, and their speech exuded the grace and composure unique to high nobility.

“Ah, I should have some coffee too.”

“Try it with cinnamon and honey. It’s delicious here.”

“I’ll take your recommendation.”

The knight in the blue uniform went downstairs.

Left alone again, the man in the white suit leisurely watched the passersby as if enjoying a vacation.

“See any women you like?”

The knight in the blue uniform returned with a cup of coffee.

The man in the white suit smiled. It was a charming smile that could stir women’s hearts.

“They’re all going to die anyway, so what’s the point of picking?”

A cruel expression that didn’t match his smile came from his mouth. The reaction of the man in the blue uniform was also abnormal.

“That’s what makes it thrilling. The experience of sharing a bed with a woman who’s about to die. Ever tried it?”

“I don’t have sexual desires, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Ah, so that rumor was true? They say the Empire’s special forces are castrated to avoid falling for honey traps.”

“It’s more about not leaving any descendants. Starting a family would make one cling to life.”

“That’s terrifying.”

The knight in the blue uniform took a sip of coffee.

“Hmm, I like this coffee. Before we blow up the city, I should ask for the recipe.”

“The explosives we planted haven’t been discovered, right? Their activation has been double and triple-checked. It would be troublesome if they didn’t work now.”

“If it had failed, I wouldn’t be here. We’ve planted plenty underground. No one knows. These idiots think they’re safe as long as they prevent intrusions from the surface. They have no idea there are thousands of bombs underground, ones you’d rarely see in this kingdom. Anyway, just a simple signal, and boom, a chain explosion!”

The knight in the blue uniform drew a mushroom shape with his arms.

“The underground will collapse, and this city will be buried. Just imagining it is thrilling. By the way, is that Homunculus thing ready?”

“It’s Homunculus. It will kill the 8-star Irregular and make its name known for the first time.”

“Last time I saw it, it didn’t seem capable of killing an Irregular. Unless it’s a Grandmaster. Even with infinite aura, its movements are too stiff…”

“Don’t worry. We’ve prepared eight Homunculi. Plus, they’re fully armed with level 4 magical tools. They can’t lose even if they want to.”

Clap clap, the knight in the blue uniform clapped his hands.

“As expected of the Sammael Empire. The kingdom with the greatest wealth and technology.”

“Only second to the Grand Duke of Ruquer. ‘The one who watches from the darkness.’ That’s what we call the Grand Duke in our special forces.”

The two men casually revealed their identities and plans. If anyone overheard, it would cause chaos.

It was a display of confidence. The belief that everything was under their control.

The man in the white suit took the last sip and glanced at his wristwatch.

“There’s one variable.”

“A variable? Impossible.”

“Keter, Sephira’s illegitimate child. He’s here. He wasn’t in our intelligence network. There’s no record of him at all… Just like you.”

“Ah…”

The knight in the blue uniform smirked at the name Keter. It was the reaction of someone who had heard the name of a long-lost friend.

“Keter is fine.”

“Fine? He’s still…”

“Anyway, don’t worry about Keter. I can handle him.”

“If you say so. I’ll trust you. Just know that our Empire wants to maintain a cooperative… relationship with the Grand Duke.”

The man in the white suit emphasized the word ‘cooperative’ as he stood up.

He went downstairs, blending into the crowd, looking more ordinary than anyone.

“That eunuch bastard is impossible to talk to. What’s so good about that bitter water he’s sipping?”

The knight in the blue uniform’s attitude and tone changed drastically. He spat out the saliva in his mouth and suddenly wore an ecstatic expression.

“Ah, Keter. You’re from Ruquer too. You didn’t even change your name from Ruquer. That’s so like you. The only man who makes my heart tremble…”

The wrinkles in his pants tightened, and soon, something rose high.

“Keter… I lost to you in Ruquer, but in the outside world, I’ll definitely have you.”

* * *

The Southern Lord’s castle.

On the top floor without a ceiling, a middle-aged man was polishing his weapons.

His gray hair, let loose, fluttered in the wind. His tightly closed lips, short beard, and slightly furrowed brow showed how much effort he was putting into this task.

The weapons he was polishing were each unique in appearance and exuded a strong presence.

A sword with no blade, only a hilt.

A spear flickering with crimson flames.

A double-edged axe made of a horned skull.

A glass shield as thin as a hair.

A wooden armor seemingly woven from branches and stems.

The middle-aged man, who was polishing the weapons as if they were his children, suddenly looked up.

At that moment, a crow circling the sky landed on the ground, and in an instant, it transformed into a person.

A monster wearing baggy clothes and a crow mask prostrated before him.

“My Lord. They’ve started to move.”

The crow mask’s voice was unidentifiable—whether it was male or female, young or old.

The middle-aged man, referred to as the Lord, flicked his thumb upward. The weapons he was polishing all disappeared at once.

The Southern Lord, Weaponmaster Eslow. He spoke with a lazy expression.

“Did you disable all the bombs planted underground?”

“Yes. The signals can still be sent, but I’ve manipulated them so they won’t explode.”

“The identities of those who cooperated with the terrorists?”

“Upper Noble Casper Galahind, Lower Noble Victor Arden Burke, Quentin Hegenbach, Stephen Inghart, Joaquin Derpen. Peacekeeping Force Captain Calvin. Iron Knight Order 9th Division Captain, Alister Grimstone. Seven in total.”

“The masterminds? No doubt one of them is from the Empire.”

“The man in the white suit is indeed from the Empire, as you suspected.”

“Evidence?”

“People from the Lilian Kingdom use their ring finger to represent the number three, but that man used his thumb. That’s the Empire’s way.”

“What about the other one?”

“…I’m sorry. I couldn’t find out.”

“I won’t give you a chance to make excuses. Was it lack of time, money, or manpower?”

“…Nothing was lacking.”

“This is the third time you’ve disappointed me. You couldn’t find a way to cure my son, couldn’t find my friend Franken… Now you can’t even identify a simple identity. You have only one chance left. If you disappoint me again, your race will disappear from this world.”

The crow mask pressed his forehead to the ground.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Get lost.”

Whoosh!

The crow mask transformed back into a crow and flew away. Eslow clicked his tongue.

“It’s pathetic that I have to rely on such incompetence.”

As Eslow descended from the top floor, maids rushed to him.

They carefully removed his clothes and gently massaged his entire body with warm water-soaked wool. Then, they applied fragrant oil and dressed him in clean clothes.

Finally, a pipe made from a branch of the World Tree was placed in his right hand. Inside was a generous amount of cheap tobacco.

Eslow put the pipe in his mouth. A maid skilled with matches lit it for him.

Sizzle.

Eslow took a deep drag and slowly exhaled smoke as he walked down the corridor.

After two puffs, a middle-aged butler in a black suit appeared, matching Eslow’s pace.

“My Lord. I have a report regarding Sephira.”

“Speak.”

Though he said to speak, Eslow didn’t stop walking. The butler, accustomed to this, spoke while walking.

“Two hours and 32 minutes ago, at 1:05 PM, Sephira’s carriage entered the city. Ten people, including the 5th Division Captain of the Lunar Knight Order, were escorting it. There were five passengers in total: Sephira’s second son Mail, third son Anis, fourth son Taragon. Constellation Knight Order member Catherine. And an illegitimate child named Keter.”

“Sephira announced four participants for the tournament. Are they the ones?”

“No. Only the third son Anis and fourth son Taragon are participating. The Holy Knight Order Vice-Captain Brooks and the Lunar Knight Order 2nd Division Captain Darkin, who were originally supposed to participate, sent letters of absence in advance.”

“Hmph. They must have realized this tournament could be a death trap, so they sent their children instead of knights. Basil, the head of the family. He’s bolder than he looks. If they hadn’t sent anyone, I would’ve taken the opportunity to send them all to the frontlines… What a shame.”

The butler remained silent. Many butlers who had agreed with Eslow’s words had lost their heads.

“No doubt they’re suffering right now. All the hotels have been bribed not to accept Sephira, so only the inns in the Outer District will take them. They’ll know it’s a trap, but will they stay at the inn knowing it’s a trap, or abandon their noble dignity and choose to sleep on the streets?”

Eslow glanced at the middle-aged butler. The number ‘47’ was written on his shoulder.

“Number 47. Where are they now and what are they doing?”

Butler 47 hesitated. There was an unspoken rule not to hesitate, but he couldn’t help it.

Eslow’s expression immediately twisted. Knowing it was akin to a death sentence, Butler 47 hurriedly spoke.

“Th-they’re at the gate now.”

Thud.

Eslow’s footsteps stopped. He removed the pipe from his mouth and looked down at Butler 47.

“Which gate?”

“The palace’s main gate. The illegitimate child, Keter, is waiting there to see you.”

“Ha, what? An illegitimate child dares to seek me out? Hey, you. Do you think I have any connection with this Keter guy?”

“None at all.”

“That’s right. I don’t know him. But he dares to come looking for me? What nerve! And why did you bring me this unpleasant news? I don’t keep you around to hear such nonsense.”

Many people want to see Eslow. Upper nobles, prominent families, and all powerholders.

But Eslow ignores anyone who comes to see him, no matter who they are. That’s the dignity of a Lord.

No one residing in this palace is unaware of that fact. Yet, the gatekeeper and butler delivered Keter’s message to Eslow.

“M-my Lord. Keter insisted that if you saw this, you would understand. He also said you would regret it if you didn’t see it… He guaranteed it.”

Butler 47, with trembling hands, handed Eslow the ‘business card’ he had received from Keter.

Eslow scoffed at the card.

“What significance does this little card have?”

The phrase on the front of the card was enough to irritate Eslow.

-Problem Solver, Keter.

I solve problems at unreasonable prices.

If there was nothing significant on the back, Eslow decided he would send the entire Sephira family, prominent or not, to the monster-infested frontlines.

But the moment he flipped the card with his finger—

Eslow’s pupils dilated.

“…….”

Butler 47, watching, gulped.

On his way here, he had also seen the writing on the back of the card. But he couldn’t understand what it said. It was the worst handwriting he had ever seen.

‘Ah, I’ve been tricked by that Keter guy. I’m dead now.’

Just as Butler 47 thought he was doomed, Eslow put the card in his pocket and spoke.

“This Keter guy.”

“…Yes, yes! I’ll arrest him immediately!”

“Bring him to the Sword Office.”