Chapter 117

Chapter 117. I’m Here (1)

The world of dreams and hope shattered.

Anis opened his mouth, and Taragon blinked rapidly.

‘Did I hear wrong? Otherwise, there’s no way Father would tell us not to participate in the tournament.’

Leganon, Panir, and Mail seemed to already know, as they remained silent without a word.

Even Keter, who trained Anis and Taragon, must have been shocked by the content, yet he was leisurely eating grapes.

“Wh-why, Father?”

Even Anis, who usually doesn’t stammer, stuttered as he asked.

“I knew this tournament was a scheme to lure us, Sephira. And that it would put us in danger. But I thought the experience gained from participating would be more valuable. No matter how much they want to bring us down, I didn’t think they’d do something cruel in front of the kingdom’s citizens and nobles gathered from all over. It was a naive decision.”

The dining hall was filled with silence. Basil took a deep breath and continued.

“They’re serious. Their goal isn’t just to drag Sephira down from its prestigious position. They’re trying to completely finish us off, so we can never recover.”

Sephira is weak in information warfare. They have no connections with guilds that handle various information, nor any political ties. No matter how much they’ve pulled themselves together, collecting such information is impossible.

That is, unless Panir stepped in.

Panir, a former royal judge, has his own connections. These weren’t Sephira’s connections but Panir’s alone.

Panir actively used these connections to uncover the full story behind the Southern Sword Tournament.

The horrifying truth of trying to crush Sephira. The scheme to do something cruel to Sephira’s knights in front of hundreds of thousands of kingdom citizens and nobles.

Basil and Panir were furious. Sephira has always yielded and endured everything. They’ve had no grudges with other nobles.

Yet, to plan something so horrific, it’s beyond words. No matter how power-hungry or ambitious they are, this is excessive.

If Basil had continued to insist on defense alone and branded Panir a traitor, they would never have uncovered this information.

Unable to accept Basil’s words to withdraw from the tournament, Anis bit his lip and asked.

“Father, if that’s all, I will never give up.”

Basil shook his head and said.

“It’s safe to say that more than half of the knights participating in the tournament are targeting our Sephira. That’s not all. We’ve learned that the Southern Lord will be attending this tournament.”

The Southern Sword Tournament is held in the Southern Lord, Eslow’s direct jurisdiction, but he has never personally attended before.

“If you are brutally crushed in front of him, he won’t sympathize with you but will think you’re incompetent. Furthermore, it will affect Sephira as well. Your defeat will be Sephira’s defeat. It’s no exaggeration to say that Sephira’s fate hinges on this tournament.”

Eslow is neutral regarding Sephira’s downfall. However, there’s a good chance his thoughts could change through this tournament.

Hearing that the Southern Lord would attend, Anis and Taragon were visibly tense. But their resolve wasn’t broken.

“Father, even so……”

As Taragon bravely tried to speak, Basil cut him off.

“Lord Darkin and Lord Brooks have already decided not to participate. If you give up, no one, including me, will point fingers.”

“……!”

At the mention that Brooks, Vice-Commander of the Holy Knight Order, and Darkin, 2nd Division Commander of the Lunar Knight Order, had already given up, Anis and Taragon’s eyes trembled.

Anis bit his lower lip and said.

“But Father, if we don’t attend, the world will call Sephira cowards. Wouldn’t that be even worse?”

“Not falling into the opponent’s trap isn’t cowardice; it’s wisdom. The opponent wasting manpower and time calling us cowards is actually praising us.”

“The world won’t see it that way. I’ll fight bravely, even if it means death. I’ll show Sephira’s will. I’ll prove that Sephira never backs down!”

Anis, who had never once opposed Basil’s opinion, raised his voice in defiance for the first time. It wasn’t an impulsive, rebellious statement. It was a shout filled with conviction and spirit.

Basil was proud of Anis, who stepped out of his shadow and confidently expressed his opinion, but he strictly separated public and private matters.

“In that case, you don’t need to do it.”

Basil’s gaze turned to Keter.

Anis and Taragon’s eyes also turned to Keter.

“Keter will fight in Sephira’s name.”

“What do you mean, Father? Keter can’t participate in the tournament. You know that. The tournament registration ended a long time ago. We heard it’s impossible for him to attend on our behalf.”

“Seems I didn’t tell you.”

Keter shrugged.

“It’s no fun if I tell you in advance.”

“Have all three conditions been met?”

Basil, who had heard the report from Luke, knew Keter had fulfilled all of them. Yet, he asked for Anis and Taragon to hear.

Keter, understanding the intent, played along.

“I got the recommendation letter from the 7th Southern Sword, and here’s the Diamond Class identification.”

A metal oval came out of his pocket. The identification tag used by mercenaries. Keter’s name was engraved on the diamond-plated tag.

“As for the sponsorship from an Upper Noble, Elder Panir said he’d handle it.”

Panir, catching Keter’s gaze, cleared his throat.

“Ahem, I was just about to tell you the progress.”

“If you couldn’t get it, say so now.”

“I got it. But they said they’d invite you to their family after the tournament, so accept it.”

“No problem. Then, all three conditions are met.”

The three conditions for unaffiliated participation.

Receive sponsorship from an Upper Noble not participating in the tournament.

Obtain a recommendation letter from the Southern Sword.

Be Diamond Class or above, a 3-Star Knight or above.

Keter had truly fulfilled all of them. In less than a month.

“…….”

Anis and Taragon were speechless. They couldn’t even bring themselves to ask, “Why is Keter participating?”

They knew from watching from the side.

Keter’s power, and his madness…….

He’s reliable as an ally, but if faced as an enemy… he’d be more terrifying than any foe.

Basil spoke to the two dejected figures.

“I know you’ve grown. You’ve endured Keter’s harsh training. You’ve learned the Heavenly Power technique, and your Aura has greatly increased. It’s miraculous growth. I’m proud of you.”

“Father…….”

“In three months, there’s the 3-Star Knight promotion exam. It’s an exam you two must take. Prepare for the promotion exam from today. Forget about the Southern Sword Tournament.”

Promotion to 3-Star Knight.

It’s what Anis and Taragon wanted. Definitely. But neither showed any signs of backing down.

The air grew heavy. Basil also had no intention of giving up on persuading his sons. A menacing aura filled the space.

“Are you not going to listen to your father?!”

If persuasion doesn’t work, he’ll use force to make them submit.

Basil doesn’t usually raise his voice, but when he’s angry, no one can stop him, as Anis and Taragon know. They instinctively shrank at his roar.

“Listen to me. At your level, you can’t represent Sephira. This is the reality. Don’t throw a tantrum.”

Under Basil’s stern scolding, Anis’s clenched fist trembled, and Taragon bit his lower lip until it bled.

Then, Mail, who had been watching, stepped forward.

“Brothers. I also agree with Father. I’m not ignoring your hardships. I’m not belittling you for being weak. I’m stopping you from making a reckless choice. Don’t you know the difference between courage and recklessness? Anis. You’re wise; you understand what I mean. Taragon. You’re a good kid who listens to your brother.”

The gentle comfort and coaxing were enough to sway Anis and Taragon’s hearts.

Mail placed a hand on Anis’s bowed shoulder.

“Lift your head. You’re the proud Archer of Sephira. You’re no coward. You’re just showing wisdom by not falling for the opponent’s schemes.”

“Brother…….”

Anis slowly raised his head.

Seeing this, Mail was startled. Anis’s eyes were filled with determination and resolve.

“Brother, please step aside.”

“You…….”

Pushing Mail’s hand away, Anis straightened his head and stared directly into Basil’s eyes.

“No matter what you say, I will go.”

His voice wasn’t trembling.

Each word was clear and filled with strength.

Basil’s presence grew even stronger. Like a growling beast, his voice was quiet yet heavy as he shot back.

“I told you not to go.”

Anis broke through Basil’s oppressive presence, took a step forward, and said.

“It’s not regret over the time invested. It’s not about proving my strength. I want to show those who disregard Sephira. I want to show those who disregard archery!”

Anis raised his voice desperately.

“What’s shot from the bow isn’t an arrow. It’s my conviction. The words of the founding Lord. What I want to show them isn’t Sephira’s arrows. It’s Sephira’s conviction……!”

“…….”

Basil silently glared at Anis.

Then, Taragon, who had finally overcome the pressure, also shouted.

“I don’t have noble intentions like Brother Anis. I only have ugly, dirty desires. I want to show those who insulted and disregarded Sephira the power of archery. I’ll prove with my life that Sephira never gives up, no matter how much we’re stabbed, cut, or trampled!”

Two sons are desperately pleading with their father to believe in them. What father could ignore this?

The pressure on Anis and Taragon disappeared. Basil closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them and speaking.

“Are you prepared? Prepared to endure everything.”

“Yes!”

Anis and Taragon answered simultaneously with strength.

Not a hint of hesitation. Their resolve was firm.

Basil slowly sat back in his chair.

“I’ve understood your resolve and conviction. As a father and as the Lord, I won’t stop you any further.”

“Does that mean……!”

Just as Anis and Taragon’s expressions brightened.

Unexpectedly, Panir spoke.

“Not everything in the world can be solved with words.”

“……?’”

Was he offering advice? But the atmosphere in his voice felt off.

Swish.

Panir stood up from his seat.

“You’re prepared, confident…. With words, you can say anything. I don’t believe in words. I believe in actions.”

“Elder Panir. What do you mean…….”

“Prove it. Prove that you two are truly qualified to participate in the Southern Sword Tournament. Show me with your actions that you’re worthy of carrying Sephira’s name.”

Panir threw two of the three bows hanging on the wall as decoration to Anis and Taragon.

This wasn’t a private dispute. It was a ‘public’ dispute with the family’s fate at stake. Not something that could be resolved with arm wrestling.

The Lord didn’t stop Panir. It was an already agreed-upon action.

Keter also popped a grape into his mouth with an intrigued expression.

As Anis and Taragon held their bows and exchanged glances, Panir shouted.

“What are you doing? Don’t you understand, or are you scared? Come on. I’ll test you. You can both come at me at the same time.”

There were no arrows. If you can’t use Aura Arrows, you’re not qualified to participate in the tournament.

“Or are you underestimating me as an old man?”

Zwoooom!

Three large, thick Aura Arrows simultaneously formed in Panir’s right hand.

Before being a royal judge, he was the former Vice-Commander of the Lunar Knight Order, a genius who reached the level of a 5-Star Master by thirty, and a hard worker.

Though he gave up on becoming a Grandmaster, as seen in his arm wrestling with Keter, he hasn’t stopped training even after taking the elder position.

If Basil’s presence was a heavy pressure, Panir’s presence was like a typhoon, forcing Anis to step back.

Taragon made a gesture to step forward first, but Anis silently blocked him and took a step forward.

“I’ll take you on, Elder Panir.”

Basil’s eyes showed interest.

Anis didn’t just talk. Like Panir said, he proved it with actions. As soon as he finished speaking, he shot an arrow, signaling the start of the battle.

And the Aura Arrow Anis created was flawless, without a single flaw.