Chapter 243

Chapter 244. Ruquer’s Friend-or-Foe Identification Method (2)

The Sephira party descended thousands of meters from the sky to the ground.

Haribo, forgetting all about dignity, immediately plopped down.

“Ground, ahh, the ground…!”

As Haribo, realizing the preciousness of the ground, grabbed the soil in awe, Hisop and Catherine, though not showing it, leaned against a tree, catching their breath.

At that moment, Chacole, who had descended with them, subtly asked Keter.

“There was a village just a bit further. Was there a reason you chose to land in this mountain?”

Keter didn’t obediently descend just because Chacole asked. It was only after hearing that the Crown Prince had changed the rules of Glory Road that they landed.

Though Chacole had worried that Keter might ignore even the Crown Prince’s orders, Keter surprisingly complied, giving Chacole the courage to speak up. However, the response he got was icy cold.

“We’ve descended as per the Crown Prince’s orders. Do you have anything else to say?”

“I have nothing more to convey from the Crown Prince… Hmm! It’s just my personal curiosity. You, who made the brilliant choice of walking in the air, what will you choose next?”

Hisop, listening to their conversation, was dumbfounded.

‘Tools may be innocent, but asking about our next plan after disrupting us? Are the Crown Prince’s subordinates this shameless, or is it the mages?’

Perhaps both, Hisop thought, glancing at Keter.

Though he was currently the head of Sephira, he had no intention of flaunting his authority to boss people around.

Because he himself had no clear plan or ideas to complete Glory Road.

On the other hand, Keter and Daat, though they might lack plans, had endless ideas.

If you don’t know much and lack ideas, the best thing to do as a leader is to trust and follow. Believing this, Hisop handed full authority to Keter and waited.

Of course, if a situation arose where he had to take responsibility, he would step up.

“Catherine.”

Keter ignored Chacole’s question and called Catherine.

“Yes, young master.”

“Go gather some firewood. We’ll eat here.”

“Eat? Haha, you’re still young and don’t know much. Just lighting a bonfire won’t be enough…”

Swish, swish.

Keter pulled out cooking tools from Decameron’s pocket. When he even took out various spices, Chacole’s eyes widened.

“A Space-Time Pocket?! Amazing! Sephira has such a precious item!”

“Maknun and Haribo are setting up the tent. We’ll rest here for a bit before heading out.”

All the necessary camping supplies poured out of Decameron’s pocket.

Haribo, though mentally and physically exhausted, found hope in the promise of rest and moved diligently.

Maknun, despite his small stature, showed no signs of fatigue. Though he usually spent more time lying down than standing, his past experiences made the grueling march and camping no problem.

Keter didn’t order Hisop to do anything, and Hisop didn’t ask the foolish question, “What should I do?”

Hisop wasn’t someone who needed to follow orders. He was someone who did what he wanted.

This was Keter acknowledging and treating Hisop as the head of the house, and Hisop felt neither boastful nor uncomfortable about it.

“I’ll go get food.”

With those words, Keter left.

Chacole, watching Keter and Hisop completely ignore him and leave, eventually followed Keter.

Haribo, glancing at Hisop, whispered to Daat.

“Is there anything Prince Keter can’t do? He’s prepared for camping and even seems ready to cook.”

“Can’t do? Nothing.”

“……”

“There are things he won’t do, though.”

Thanks to Maknun’s straightforward explanation, Hisop and Haribo immediately understood and nodded without further comment.

* * *

Chacole couldn’t take his eyes off Keter.

“Wait, can you just pick and store anything like that? And is your pocket also a Space-Time Pocket? How does it hold so much? Huh?”

Colorful mushrooms, grass-like weeds, tough leaves. Keter seemed to be storing even inedible things.

Keter, without responding, bent down, picked up a sharp stone, and threw it.

Chacole’s body moved before his magic could react to the stone flying towards him.

“Ugh!”

Thud!

A wild boar hiding in the bushes collapsed from the stone throw.

Chacole, brushing off his chest, said.

“Y-you startled me! If you were going to hunt a boar, you should’ve warned me!”

“Old man. You don’t have friends, do you?”

“……?!”

“Since earlier, you’ve been rambling on… Do you want to end up like that boar?”

“Was I that annoying? But I’m a court mage…”

“Whether you’re from the royal family or the imperial family, I don’t care. If you’re just going to be a nuisance, leave.”

“I’ll help. Just say the word. Should I move the boar? You’ll need fire for the bonfire, I can light it. And you said you’re resting? I can replace the watch with magic.”

“I don’t need your abilities much, but if you really want to help, tell me some royal stories.”

“Royal stories…?”

Keter, slinging the boar over his shoulder, casually said.

“There must be some palace issues, right? Like power struggles. Or information about the Crown Prince.”

“Haha, so you’re trying to extract information from me, huh?”

“Mutual benefit. Aren’t you curious about me too?”

“If I answer, will you tell me too?”

Chacole’s loyalty to the palace had already waned. What replaced it was a mage’s curiosity.

Mages are beings who, if their curiosity is satisfied, would even sacrifice themselves and their children for knowledge.

“I swear I’ll tell you without a single lie.”

“Hohoho!”

Chacole stroked his beard and laughed. It was his way of gladly accepting.

Thus, the two exchanged information. Keter shared information about Demon Archery, and in return, learned why the Crown Prince had issued the head family summons.

“The Crown Prince issued the head family summons to ascend the throne.”

“What does summoning the heads have to do with ascending the throne?”

“To solidify his faction. To suppress the Second Prince, Rakan.”

“The two princes fighting over the throne means they’re sure Queen Lilian won’t return, right?”

Though it was a massive secret, Chacole acted as if it were nothing.

“The Queen’s absence for ten years is an open secret in the palace. It’s not normal for a ruler to be absent for ten years, not even five.”

“Public opinion must have shifted, thinking it’s right to ascend for the country’s sake.”

“She declared she’d act as regent until the Queen returns. The upper nobles all accepted it.”

“Strange. Our Sephira is also an upper noble, but this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Ahem, Sephira… To be blunt, has no ties to the royal family. It’s rare for a prestigious family to have no connection to the palace.”

“So, the Crown Prince dislikes Sephira? Given how he dragged us down here.”

Chacole, who had been talking smoothly, suddenly closed his mouth and stroked his beard endlessly.

“I can’t be sure, but I don’t think he dislikes Sephira. Because he called me. If he wanted to punish Sephira, the Dragon Knight Order would’ve stepped in.”

“Since it was just a light warning, he doesn’t dislike Sephira?”

“It’s just speculation, but I think so. The Crown Prince wants Glory Road to be fair.”

“Haha, fair? A Crown Prince fighting his brother over the throne talking about fairness, that’s amusing.”

“I understand you’re upset about the sanctions, but Prince Rukan isn’t seeking the throne for personal gain. He’s surely meant to be a righteous king.”

“You seem to know Prince Rukan well?”

“Didn’t I say? I’m a court mage. I’ve guarded him personally.”

Chacole boasted, puffing out his chest.

Keter recalled his past life memories.

First Prince Rukan, Second Prince Rakan. Both were children born directly by Queen Lilian, so they’re no ordinary humans.

“I won’t pursue you. Instead, leave this country and never return. That’s my first and last offer to you.”

In his past life, after Keter became Prime and roamed the country, Rukan personally proposed a deal to Keter.

I won’t kill you. I won’t pursue you. Instead, you leave this country and never return.

Of course, Keter raised his middle finger and refused, and a few days later, the Second Prince, Rakan, came with a proposal.

“I’ll help you kill First Prince Rukan.”

Keter also refused Rakan’s proposal. He might have helped kill the Queen, but Rakan was beneath his notice.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s strange.’

Keter’s brow furrowed.

‘In my past life, the king of this country was Lilian until the end. But now, Rukan and Rakan are vying for the throne?’

Of course, Rukan and Rakan’s struggle for the throne could just be a fleeting event. The Queen might reappear midway. Then it wouldn’t be much different from the past life.

But this was truly unknown.

‘What if Queen Lilian is really absent?’

Why is Queen Lilian not on the throne, unlike in the past life?

‘I haven’t done anything to the palace yet.’

For the past half year, he’s only influenced the southern region. Rumors have only spread to other areas.

Could this be why Queen Lilian is acting differently from the past life?

‘It doesn’t seem like a coincidence…?’

Something feels off. Without evidence, Keter couldn’t just let this strange unease pass.

‘-Which is something I’ve already discussed with Maknun.’

While sharing future information with Maknun, Maknun pointed out things Keter hadn’t considered.

One of them was Queen Lilian’s movements.

While everyone else acted the same as in the past life, why is only Queen Lilian different?

Keter didn’t know much about Queen Lilian’s movements, so without direct confirmation, he couldn’t know if she had truly disappeared or was secretly active in the palace.

But Maknun firmly stated it was different.

“You said you don’t know why you regressed. Maybe it’s related to Lilian.”

“I’ve never even seen Lilian.”

“It might not be directly, but two or three steps removed. For example, if your mother, Akra, is connected to Lilian.”

“If that’s all true, what a messed-up relationship.”

“Anyway, based on the information you provided, the head family summons will come soon. Let’s go to the palace with Hisop then. To gather information about Lilian.”

“Having you here really makes things move forward.”

Now, talking with Chacole, Keter felt confident that Maknun’s predictions were correct.

Something’s happened in the palace. That means something’s happened to Lilian.

And that’s a future completely different from the past life.

‘Lilian, and that damn mother of mine. What kind of connection is this?’

Just as anger towards his mother, who had used everything about him, began to rise, he sensed unfamiliar presences approaching the camp.

‘In these deep mountains, there are others besides us?’

Smirk.

Keter’s lips curled up. He had been wanting to punch something, and now he felt grateful to those who came seeking trouble.

* * *

While Keter was out getting food, Daat and Haribo had completed setting up the camp.

Catherine had also gathered well-dried firewood, and now all that was left was cooking, when a group of people emerged from the bushes.

“Excuse us. First, let us clarify that we are not suspicious individuals.”

A middle-aged man, seemingly the leader of knights clad in Full Plate Armor, raised both hands to show no hostility.

“Lenin, knight commander of the southern Blitz Count’s family, greets Hisop El Sephira, branch head of Sephira.”

Lenin knelt on one knee and respectfully greeted Hisop, who nodded in acknowledgment.

“Sir Lenin. Meeting in such a remote mountain, what a coincidence.”

“May I explain the situation?”

“Go ahead.”

“First, the knights behind me are also from the Blitz Count’s family. There are eleven of us, with five not here as they are guarding Lord Bruce of the Blitz family.”

“It seems you’re also on your way to the palace, like us.”

“Yes. Passing through this mountain is much faster, so we took the risk of crossing the hills. While doing so, we saw people descending from the sky and, confirming it was you, came here.”

“Was this your decision, or Lord Blitz’s?”

Hisop asked with a tone full of caution, but the answer came from the bushes.

“It was my decision, Hisop, branch head.”

“Lord Bruce!”

Emerging from the bushes was the head of the Blitz family, Bruce.

Bruce slightly bowed his head to Hisop in greeting, and Hisop nodded back.

“Hisop, branch head. I know our families aren’t close. But we’re not on bad terms, are we? Moreover, meeting in such a remote mountain, I consider it a significant connection. With that in mind, I propose we walk Glory Road together.”

Bruce’s proposal to walk Glory Road together. Hisop crossed his arms.

“Sephira has many enemies.”

“Which family in this world has no enemies? Our Blitz family has enemies too.”

“Having more people will only slow us down. What benefit is there in traveling together?”

“Haha, Hisop, branch head. I can’t fly or run around. Yet I reached here in two days. Aren’t you curious how that’s possible?”

“Hmm……”

“Let’s go together, Sephira branch head. With me, at least you won’t lack time to reach the palace.”

Bruce’s wrinkled face was full of confidence and goodwill.

But Hisop didn’t readily agree and fell into deep thought.

His hesitation wasn’t because of Keter. He was trying to find an answer to whether Bruce could be trusted.

Then, Keter stepped in. To neatly resolve Hisop’s dilemma.

Thud!

Keter, who had just kicked Knight Commander Lenin’s shin, entered with a fanged grin.

“Coincidence, my foot.”