Chapter 137

Chapter 138. For a God, She’s Quite Timid (4)

Eslow recalled the conversation he had with Keter.

“I’ll treat you and Sephira’s clan as honored guests, as you wish. Stay in my castle. But if the treatment fails, Sephira will become a sea of fire.”

Indeed, there was no explicit agreement that “you’ll stay as a guest in exchange for treating Lyze.”

But even without saying it, there was an implicit understanding.

So Keter is now…

‘Picking apart my words, huh?’

The corner of Eslow’s mouth twitched upward.

“Keter. You’ve finally crossed the line.”

Eslow, who had been holding his hands behind his back, pulled out a tobacco pipe from his pocket. But instead of putting it in his mouth, he pointed it directly at Keter’s chest.

The pipe rose steadily, just before touching Keter’s forehead—

“It seems you’ve misunderstood my words.”

The pipe stopped. As if waiting for just one more word.

“We’ve already been treated as honored guests. As a reward for the first treatment.”

“First treatment?”

“The surgery to suppress Extreme Mana Stagnation was successful. Now, all that’s left is the control surgery.”

“Huh, so you deliberately didn’t fully treat it?”

“If Master Franken heard this, he’d be sad. A physician doesn’t deliberately under-treat a patient. The suppression surgery is necessary, but the control surgery is optional.”

“You’re really selling Franken well.”

“Master also said this: A physician must never perform medical treatment without compensation. My Lord, if you won’t pay for the second surgery, I can’t perform it either.”

“…Hmph.”

Eslow chuckled and lowered the pipe.

“Interesting. Keter, I thought you were an archer recognized by Basil because you wield Amaranth. But are you living as Franken’s disciple, as a physician?”

“I’m neither an archer nor a physician.”

Keter created a small flame at the tip of his finger and used it to light Eslow’s pipe.

“I’m a Solver.”

“…A Solver.”

Eslow took a puff from the lit pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“Tell me the difference between having the control surgery and not having it.”

He was implying that if it was unnecessary, he wouldn’t bother.

“If you don’t have the surgery, you’ll live as an ordinary person. If you do, you’ll become someone who only retains the advantages of Extreme Mana Stagnation and discards the disadvantages. Well, becoming a Great Sorcerer would be easy.”

“A Great Sorcerer, huh.”

Eslow took another puff and exhaled before continuing.

“Keter. From now on, you’ll be Henya and Lyze’s attending physician. In return, I’ll protect Sephira until your death.”

“No, thanks.”

“Don’t you want to save Sephira?”

“To truly live, one must be independent. If my neck is in someone else’s hands, can you call that living?”

“It’s better than disappearing from this world. Endure and wait for your chance.”

“Sephira has already seized her chance.”

Keter raised his thumb toward himself.

“…Heh heh.”

“I’ll take that laugh as a yes.”

“I’ll ask you one thing. The weight of your reward will depend on your answer.”

“Gladly.”

“What do you think of Queen Lilian?”

If anyone else had heard this question, they would’ve immediately started praising her.

But this wasn’t a public setting. Only Keter and Eslow were in this space.

What was he testing?

What did he want to hear?

Even if given 100 days. Even if they had decided what to say, no one could easily answer. Eslow was the Queen’s closest confidant. One of the four great lords, granted a portion of the Queen’s power.

Keter also pondered. Though only briefly.

“For a god, she’s quite timid?”

“…What?”

“Other kings and queens are also called gods, and though not often, they do show themselves from time to time, right? But almost no one has seen Queen Lilian in person. Is she even alive?”

Keter subtly mixed a question into his answer.

But Eslow didn’t let it slide.

“The Queen seems timid… Is that your answer for living in the Lilian Kingdom?”

“That’s what came to mind first. What, do you like it?”

“Leave.”

When given a sudden, contextless dismissal, one might ask, “What about the reward?” But Keter simply shrugged and left for the guest room without another word.

* * *

“Timid, huh…”

Eslow pondered the words Keter left behind.

“It’s something only someone who doesn’t know what Queen Lilian truly is would say.”

The Lilian Kingdom is geographically rich in strategic resources and fertile for farming, but militarily, it’s the worst country.

To the east lies the engineering powerhouse, the Baen Kingdom, and to the west, the barbarian kingdom of Adeus?

Or is it because of the sea monsters and pirates wreaking havoc in the southern seas?

No.

It’s because of the Demon Realm (魔京) located at the center of the continent.

A hellish place teeming with all sorts of bizarre creatures and demons, the Demon Realm. The Lilian Kingdom shares the largest border with the Demon Realm among all nations. Even more than the Empire, which holds the largest territory on the continent.

Currently, every nation spends over half of its defense capabilities blocking the monsters and demons pouring out of the Demon Realm.

But the Lilian Kingdom is different.

Despite sharing the largest border with the Demon Realm, it only spends 30% of its defense capabilities. All thanks to Queen Lilian. This is a fact known only to the four great lords.

“I don’t know what Lilian did, but it’s clear the Demon Realm favors this country.”

As Keter said, Queen Lilian rarely shows herself. For nearly 100 years.

But she occasionally reveals herself to the lords. Naturally, to Eslow as well.

Over a decade ago, Eslow met Queen Lilian for the first time in nearly 80 years, and she only said this to him:

“Test whether Sephira is worthy of being a noble family.”

After saying that, she disappeared again.

Though she called it a test, Eslow knew. It was a euphemism for erasing Sephira from this country.

Even back then, he found it strange.

‘Why would Lilian care about something like Sephira?’

From Eslow’s perspective, wiping out a family is no big deal. Even if it’s a prestigious family, it’s still the same.

So why would the Queen personally come to him to deliver a message about keeping Sephira, the least significant of the noble families, in check?

‘Could this be an opportunity?’

He wasn’t sure. But Eslow soon realized this was a rare opportunity.

‘It’s clear something is wrong with Queen Lilian’s well-being. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to me personally to give such an order.’

To test his hypothesis, Eslow deliberately delayed. Instead of testing Sephira immediately after receiving the Queen’s order, he used the Southern Sword Tournament as an “excuse” to observe for 10 years.

As a result, he gained a bit more confidence.

‘Queen Lilian is currently in a state where she can’t easily interfere in this world.’

But expecting more than that was difficult. To confirm further, he’d have to expend causality, which would only reduce his chances of escaping the Queen’s grasp.

‘Besides, my ultimate weapon isn’t complete yet. 10 years, at most 20. I can wait.’

Eslow decided to quietly wait for the completion of the “weapon” he was preparing.

But recently, the appearance of a certain being changed his mind.

Keter.

The Solver of Ruquer, and Sephira’s illegitimate child.

“You’ve succeeded in catching my interest, Keter.”

Eslow decided to postpone Sephira’s downfall. Instead…

“I’ll use you to see how Lilian reacts.”

Why is the Queen so fixated on Sephira?

Eslow harbored the hope that uncovering this secret might reveal the Queen’s weakness.

* * *

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal striking woke Sephira’s party from their deep sleep.

“Wake up! Wake up!”

“What, what’s going on?!”

“What’s happening?!”

Sephira’s archers, who slept with their bows and arrows by their bedside, grabbed their loaded bows and rushed to the source of the noise—the kitchen.

“Eat up. It’s all ready.”

Keter, stirring a large cauldron, spoke casually. Sephira’s Triad and the Lunar Knight Order, who had rushed over in a panic, sighed in relief.

“There’s nothing on the table.”

“I’m setting the bowls and utensils. It’s almost done.”

“Hmm.”

Sephira’s party was too awake to go back to sleep. More importantly, the delicious aroma of chicken soup wafted from the cauldron.

The rich, savory scent of chicken filled the air, with a hint of ginger that stimulated their appetites.

They usually didn’t have breakfast together, but thanks to Keter, they all gathered and waited like baby birds for his cooking.

“Here, it’s done. Chicken soup that’ll blow your soul away.”

“Ooh, smells good!”

Taragon, with his hearty appetite, licked his lips.

The others, though not showing it, swallowed their saliva. Last night’s meal, which Keter had made in high spirits, had been incredible.

Tender shredded chicken, golden broth, bright red carrots, and green beans made the dish a feast for the eyes.

After serving everyone, Keter sat at the table and said:

“Savor it. It’s precious.”

“Huh? Okay. Thanks, Keter.”

Chicken soup isn’t exactly a rare dish, is it? Mail thought to himself but politely thanked Keter and took a spoonful.

The moment he did—

“Gasp?!”

Mail’s eyes widened in shock.

The others reacted similarly.

“Wha—?!”

“What is this?!”

“My body’s heating up!”

From Catherine to the Lunar Knights, everyone was stunned after just one bite.

Keter, eating the soup with a ladle, explained:

“It’s chicken soup made with leftover elixirs and ten-thousand-year-old snow jade. Probably the most expensive chicken soup in this world.”

After finishing Lyze’s treatment, Keter naturally took the leftover elixirs.

One Cheongryeonghwan, one White Flower Pill, three Volume Dissolution Pills, and the remaining ten-thousand-year-old snow jade—all went into the soup.

If he had just boiled it, the elixirs’ effects would’ve been nearly gone. But in Keter’s soup, half of their potency remained.

His ultimate cooking technique, learned from his master Demeter: “Food Intent.”

Demeter’s “Food Intent,” which imbues food with heart, can open the eyes of the blind and make the lame walk.

Of course, Keter hadn’t reached that level yet.

‘But preserving the elixirs’ effects while increasing the quantity is possible.’

If Demeter had cooked it, the elixirs’ effects would’ve been amplified further, but for Keter, preserving even half required immense mental effort.

The party had no time to appreciate Keter’s care. The soup was too delicious, and the changes happening in their bodies left them in a trance.

Sweat poured from their bodies like a broken faucet. The Volume Dissolution Pill’s effect was expelling toxins. The sweat was bright yellow and smelled foul, but no one cared.

“Haaah…”

“I can’t stop eating.”

“My body feels so light!”

They stripped off their clothes and devoured the soup like madmen, almost chewing the bowls.

“Don’t eat the bowls. They’re just porcelain.”

Keter, who had only eaten a small portion, left the party and went to the garden.

Having undergone a complete transformation, Keter’s body had no toxins left. Eating the soup was just delicious for him.

As he strolled in the garden, basking in the sunlight, someone approached.

“Prince Keter. Good morning.”

It was Butler #55.

“You’re not here just to greet me.”

“Yes. Actually, someone has come to see you, Prince Keter. They said they had an appointment, so I came to confirm.”

“Who is it?”

“Minerva El Aegis. The one known as the Eastern Shield wishes to meet you.”