Chapter 106

Chapter 106. Become a Butterfly (2)

Keter extended both palms.

In his right hand, Aura—

In his left, a sphere of Mana floated.

“I already know you can use both Aura and Mana simultaneously. Is that how you kill a god? But I don’t have the blessed constitution to wield both Aura and Mana at the same time.”

“I’m not blessed either. And listen to the end.”

*Clap!*

Keter clapped his hands.

Aura and Mana repelled each other like magnets.

Under normal circumstances, this should cause an explosion. But no explosion occurred.

Instead, a brilliant light seeped through his fingers.

“What is this…?”

Jairo’s eyes widened at the sight he had never seen before. Aura and Mana were like fire and water. Seeing fire and water merging, how could he not be shocked?

Keter spread his hands. Within them, a white sphere had formed.

*Zzzzt!*

The white sphere, created by the fusion of Aura and Mana, couldn’t maintain its form and collapsed inward, disappearing.

Keter, who had just demonstrated this, spoke of the world’s taboo.

“This power you just saw is called ‘Ain’ (Nothing). The fusion of Aura and Mana retains only the strengths of both, with no weaknesses. Its power is overwhelming. Of course, it’s not something you can obtain easily. You need at least 100 years’ worth of both Aura and Mana.”

“With just the power of Ain, can I kill a god?”

“Of course not. You must also reach the realm of a 7-Star Prime. My guess is that an 8-Star Irregular refers to a Prime who has mastered the power of Ain. And to kill the Queen, you must go beyond that, reaching the 9-Star realm, a level so high its name isn’t even known. You’ll need ‘Ain Soph’ (Unlimited), a power beyond Ain. That’s all I know.”

“…Where did you learn such secrets about this power?”

“Don’t ask questions you know I won’t answer.”

“My apologies. I was so shocked I said something foolish.”

Jairo lowered his head and fell silent for a long time.

Keter, in the meantime, calmly waited while practicing self-harm training.

“If I need Ain, then it’s impossible for me to kill a god.”

“If it were impossible, I wouldn’t have told you it’s possible. Did you forget? I’m not blessed either. There’s a way to artificially create a blessed constitution.”

A blessed constitution refers to a body capable of wielding both Aura and Mana simultaneously.

Keter explained that if he completely abandoned his Aura, which he acquired later, he could wield both Aura and Mana.

Yet, Jairo shook his head.

“I don’t know when I’ll be able to accumulate 100 years’ worth of Aura and Mana. I don’t know how much time it will take, and even if I create Ain, I don’t know if I can reach the 7-Star realm.”

“Were you hoping for a shortcut like the Demon Sword? I don’t think there’s one. Are you trying to take life too lightly?”

“Having encountered the Demon Sword, a shortcut, I can’t bring myself to climb the mountain path where the peak is invisible. Not even an 8-Star, but a 9-Star to fight the Queen… What about the Lords? If a 7-Star Prime wields Ain, can they win?”

“Hmm, wait.”

The Eastern Sword, ‘Dayal, the Sky Cutter,’ whom he had faced before, clearly used the power of Ain.

But it wasn’t his own. It was a borrowed form of Ain from an external source.

The only one who could lend Ain to the Eastern Sword was, of course, Lilian.

In other words, even Dayal isn’t a perfect 8-Star. A half-baked 8-Star. He’s somewhere between 7-Star and 8-Star.

If Dayal fought a 7-Star Prime, Dayal, who uses Ain, would undoubtedly win.

But if he fought an 8-Star Irregular, Dayal would lose. The Ain he wields isn’t his own but borrowed from an external source. There must be limits.

Then, are the other Lords like Dayal?

Keter doesn’t know, as he hasn’t fought them.

“If there’s one Lord and four Grandmasters risking their lives to draw attention, it might be possible.”

“From what I hear, it seems realistically impossible. Why did you say there’s a possibility in Ruquer?”

“Obtaining Ain isn’t just about knowing how to fuse Aura and Mana. It’s similar to advancing from a 5-Star Master to a 6-Star Grandmaster. It’s a realm that can’t be broken through sheer power alone. It’s the realm of enlightenment. You seem to have the potential to become an 8-Star Irregular.”

“Are you a Prime, by any chance? I heard that when one becomes a Prime, their body returns to its prime, and they stop aging. Otherwise, how could you know so much?”

“Are you curious about my identity? Or the method of revenge?”

“If you’re a Prime and your goal is to kill Queen Lilian, then I don’t think I need to step forward.”

Jairo felt the vastness in Keter’s method and his spirit broke. Not even alcohol could boost his courage.

Jairo’s growth has stalled at 4-Star. A realm without even a title. Moreover, he’s over 60 years old.

Starting training again now to challenge 5-Star Master, 6-Star Grandmaster, and 7-Star Prime is absurd. On top of that, he’d have to abandon all his Aura and start over from scratch.

Growing this slowly, he can’t take revenge on the Queen. Time is fair to everyone.

While Jairo trains, the Queen will also grow stronger. Not to mention, this country will become even more powerful. The 4 Great Lords might become 6 Great Lords.

Though grateful for Keter’s high praise, Jairo lacked confidence. Starting over from the beginning, becoming an 8-Star Irregular…

Jairo’s despair isn’t weakness. Anyone hearing Keter’s words would have their spirit shattered.

*Slap!*

Keter slapped Jairo across the face. The sincere slap turned Jairo’s head sharply.

“Compared to the 4 Great Lords or Lilian, you’re indeed a bug.”

“……”

Jairo couldn’t retort and lowered his head deeply.

This time, Keter punched Jairo in the side. So hard that even Jairo, who hadn’t flinched under the Trio’s attacks, rolled on the ground.

“Say it. I’m a bug.”

Despite the insult, Jairo muttered with dead eyes.

“I’m a bug.”

“Then become a butterfly, Jairo.”

“…!”

“A bug crawling on the ground won’t even catch Lilian’s eye. It’ll just be crushed under the feet of the 4 Great Lords guarding her. But if you become a butterfly, at least you can face her head-on. If you’re lucky, you might even annoy her. With enough luck, you might even look down on her sometimes.”

Keter extended his hand.

“A bug should fight like a bug.”

“…Hmph.”

Jairo chuckled.

Soon, it turned into a loud laugh.

“Haha, hahaha! Ahahaha!”

Jairo didn’t take Keter’s hand but stood up alone. Life returned to his eyes.

“Isn’t that too much? Calling someone a bug.”

“It’s just a saying.”

“You’ve saved my life twice now.”

“You were so obviously desperate to live, I had no choice but to throw you a rope. You’re the one who grabbed it.”

“Ah, so that’s how it was? Haha.”

Jairo, with his greatsword slung over his shoulder, took a deep breath.

“I’ve roughly figured out what to do. I’ll head to the Arena in the warrior nation, Adeus. They say even Master-level fighters risk their lives there. If I go, I’ll either die or become a 5-Star Master.”

“You didn’t need to tell me.”

“If I somehow become a 5-Star Master, I’ll join the Twilight Guild. Do you know what kind of place that is?”

“I do.”

The Twilight Guild.

A guild of cursed artifact owners. The total number isn’t known, but from what I know, it’s around eight or nine.

Though small in number, every member wields a cursed artifact, making it the most elite and powerful guild.

‘They certainly have a deep understanding of cursed artifacts.’

In my past life, I fought two of them. They came seeking my soul. Naturally, I killed both.

Will they come for me in this life?

Or will the future change because of Jairo?

“You know about Twilight, yet you’re not stopping me?”

The Twilight Guild isn’t just a gathering of cursed artifact owners.

They’re a global criminal organization. They commit all sorts of murders and plunder. The only difference is that their targets aren’t commoners but nobles.

The bounty on their heads alone is at least 500,000 gold, and the whole world is eager to capture them.

“Jairo. I’m not someone who pities innocent and pitiful people dying.”

“I thought you were a hero.”

“Ha, you think I’m a hero?”

“Then are you a villain?”

“No. I’m just me.”

“This is hard to say, but… you’re insane, boss.”

“Bold words in front of a madman.”

“A mad boss deserves a mad subordinate. Next time we meet, I’ll still call you boss.”

“Alright, subordinate.”

Jairo placed his left hand on his stomach and bowed deeply.

“Farewell, boss.”

* * *

The day after Jairo left.

As always, the morning sun rose, and an unprecedented tension and busyness filled Sephira.

All troops, including soldiers and knights, maintained strict vigilance, while vassals and servants stayed in their assigned places. They remained silent, not even breathing loudly.

The world seemed to synchronize with Sephira’s silence, with not a breeze blowing. No birds chirped, no insects buzzed. It was as if the world had stopped.

All this was because Sephira’s Grand Assembly Hall had opened.

Preparing for the future isn’t just Keter’s task.

The family head, Basil, also made a bold decision to change Sephira’s future.

At this meeting to discuss Sephira’s future, all core members of the family were present without exception.

The tension felt by Sephira’s vassals at the Grand Assembly Hall, opened for the first time in 20 years, was indescribable. In the past, whenever the Grand Assembly was held, a new wind always blew through Sephira.

Core members entered the Grand Assembly Hall one after another. In the corridor leading to the hall, Lunar Knights stood in formation.

At the hall’s entrance, two Lunar Knights conducted body searches. From head to toe, no one was exempt. Even elders Panir and Leganon were searched.

After the search, attendees dipped their fingers in clean well water drawn at dawn and marked their foreheads.

As the water droplet ran down their chin, they swore while looking at the ceiling inscribed with the names of their ancestors.

“I, Panir El Sephira, swear upon my hot heart and cold soul to my ancestors. Beyond this door, I will speak only the truth and will not remain silent for Sephira’s peace.”

After the oath, they could finally enter the Grand Assembly Hall.

Inside the hall were three silver tables.

At the head table sat family head Basil, flanked by elders Panir and Leganon. There was one vacant seat, belonging to elder Ricotta.

To the right of the head table sat the department heads responsible for the family’s administration: the Financial Department Head, HR Department Head, Agricultural Department Head. Finally, Artisan Department Head Vulkanus filled the last seat.

To the left sat the knight commanders.

Holy Knight Commander, Lunar Knight Commander, Constellation Knight Commander.

*Thud!*

The thick doors of the Grand Assembly Hall closed, and soon Chief Steward Subid stood to begin the proceedings.

“Total of twelve, one vacancy, currently eleven present. Count Basil El Sephira, please declare the start of the Grand Assembly.”

Basil, dressed in ceremonial black with silver stripes, lightly tapped a heavy wooden board with his gavel.

*Thud, thud.*

A deep resonance filled the hall. Then Basil spoke in a solemn voice.

“I hereby declare the 92nd Grand Assembly open.”