Chapter 152

Chapter 153. Secret Friend (1)

The first match, Battle Royal Group B, was dominated by one person from start to finish. It was Keter.

Starting by throwing all the badges into the sea so no one else could get them, he defeated almost all the participants. He even chased Pasian, who had dived into the sea, and turned him into mush.

What did Keter do after monopolizing all the badges? Did he throw them all away again?

No.

“I’ll give you guys some hope, since you’re the better ones.”

He gave 20 badges to Pasian and Henya, forcing them to earn 7 points. Keter himself escaped the deserted island with 20 badges.

With all badges accounted for, the match ended. The remaining 30 badges sank to the bottom of the sea. Naturally, all other Group B participants scored 0 points.

After the match.

The tournament organizers announced to the audience via the screen.

“Due to maintenance on the deserted island, tomorrow’s Group C match has been postponed to three days later.”

A three-day gap was created to clean up and repair the deserted island that Keter had turned into a wasteland.

The audience didn’t mind. Their minds were occupied by only one person and one family.

Keter and Sephira.

They couldn’t stand just chatting among themselves. The audience surrounded the carriage storage area attached to the arena to see Keter and Sephira. After all, Sephira’s carriage was there.

Even the nobles were no different. They also waited in order of rank to exchange even a single word with Sephira’s bloodline. Among them were allied nobles of Marquis Galahind.

Everyone was eagerly waiting for Keter and the Sephira family to emerge.

Thud, thud! Thud!

The crowd parted at the sound of heavy footsteps, and a group of knights stormed into the carriage storage area.

The audience was shocked at the sudden appearance of the knights.

“The Immortal Knights!”

“It’s the lord’s knight order!”

The overwhelming presence of the Immortal Knights, clad in black armor and skull masks, was undeniable. No one needed to be told to move aside. Everyone instinctively stepped back.

Leading the Immortal Knights was the only knight without a skull mask, Jeffrey Edmund.

The nobles whispered among themselves upon seeing Jeffrey.

“That’s the knight who killed Marquis Galahind’s butler with a single strike.”

“But why is the lord’s knight order here?”

“Obviously because of Sephira, no, Keter. He used magic! They must be here for an immediate trial.”

The tournament rules didn’t prohibit the use of ‘magic.’ But it violated the kingdom’s laws.

-It is strictly forbidden for anyone without royal permission to use magic.

Only ‘national mages’ could use magic without royal permission.

The audience eagerly awaited Sephira’s bloodline to emerge from the guest room. They were curious about what defense they would offer and how they would react.

Finally, Sephira’s bloodline appeared in the carriage storage area, escorted by the Lunar Knight Order.

Mail and Anis wore calm expressions, while Taragon’s face was visibly tense.

Keter glanced at the crowd and muttered.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go back and eat.”

The nobles were outraged by Keter’s indifferent attitude but didn’t dare to step forward.

No, they didn’t need to.

The lord’s knight order, the Immortal Knights, were here!

Even Rajis, the Sword Dragon of the prestigious Garcia family, couldn’t step forward before Jeffrey Edmund of the Immortal Knights.

Under the gaze of tens of thousands, Jeffrey stood before Sephira’s bloodline. A sharp sword hung at his waist, and tension filled the air as if it might be drawn at any moment.

Swish.

Jeffrey’s arm moved. Everyone’s pupils dilated. Despite the cool weather, beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

Thud.

Jeffrey bent his right knee. Then, with his left fist pressed to his chest, he spoke to Keter.

“The lord congratulates you on your victory, Prince Keter.”

“……!”

“……?!”

With that one sentence from Jeffrey, the world froze.

Commoners and nobles alike doubted their ears.

Eslow, who had been indifferent to the Southern Sword Tournament held in his own city for hundreds of years. Eslow, who had been completely uninterested in the human world, had ‘congratulated’ Keter? And through the Immortal Knights?!

Moreover, Keter was the one who had defeated Henya, Eslow’s daughter. Yet, Jeffrey treated Keter, a ‘suspect’ who might have used magic, with utmost respect.

“Please board the carriage. The Immortal Knights will escort you.”

“Huh, huh!”

“This is unbelievable!”

At the mention of being escorted by the Immortal Knights, all the nobles couldn’t hold back and broke their silence.

Had anyone in history ever been escorted by the Immortal Knights? No one. They only followed Lord Eslow’s orders, and Eslow had never treated anyone like this.

“Then… Sephira entering the lord’s palace was indeed as a guest!”

At the words of a young noble, the other nobles were on the verge of fainting.

It was widely known that Sephira’s bloodline was staying at Eslow’s palace. But most thought they were being held as ‘hostages.’

No, they had to be. No one had ever entered Eslow’s palace as a guest.

How could Sephira, the weakest of the prestigious families, politically vulnerable Sephira, receive the lord’s favor?!

But Jeffrey of the Immortal Knights had publicly declared in front of tens of thousands.

-Sephira is the lord’s guest.

Now, no one could deny it. It would be like trying to block the sun with a palm.

The nobles weren’t the only ones shocked. Sephira’s Triad was also bewildered. They never imagined Eslow would go this far for them.

They had even worried about being treated as traitors. After all, they had turned the deserted island into a wasteland. And their methods seemed like magic.

But what was this? The Immortal Knights were even offering to escort them.

“Do you have any unfinished business here?”

When Mail didn’t move, Jeffrey urged him. Mail finally coughed and regained his composure.

“Ahem, my apologies. I will express my gratitude for the lord’s congratulations in person upon returning to the palace.”

Mail enchanted his ‘voice’ so everyone could hear. It couldn’t possibly harm the southern nobles to be seen as close to the southern lord.

-Our Sephira is close to Lord Eslow!

He was boasting.

Sephira’s bloodline boarded the carriage and headed straight to the palace under the escort of the Immortal Knights. No one dared to block or stop them.

Even with multiple lives, it would be impossible. Who would dare to stop the lord’s knight order?

Even Galahind, a powerful figure, left in frustration.

The remaining nobles could only watch the departing carriage with regret.

Bang!

The door of the running carriage opened, and someone jumped out.

Keter, who somersaulted and landed gracefully on the ground, began walking towards the gathered nobles.

The nobles didn’t understand what was happening. Why did Keter suddenly jump out of the carriage, and why did the Immortal Knights allow it? And why was he approaching them?

One thing was certain: no noble wanted to leave this place.

Soon, Keter stood before hundreds of nobles, rubbing his stomach with his right hand.

“Who’s buying me lunch?”

* * *

The results of the Southern Sword Tournament spread rapidly across the kingdom in real-time.

Henya’s participation announcement, Sephira’s performance, Keter’s appearance… Everything was objectively reported to the nobles without exaggeration, but they didn’t believe it. No, they couldn’t believe it.

That Sephira had defeated all the knights, the formidable competitors, in the tournament. Especially the information that Keter, Sephira’s illegitimate son, had participated independently and demonstrated the might of a one-man army was the most unbelievable.

Turning the deserted island into a wasteland with a single arrow-

Defeating master-level opponents like Henya and Pasian, and even giving advice. Who would believe such information?

Everyone was on edge about Keter’s identity, and naturally, countless eyes turned to the Sephira family he belonged to.

What measures had Sephira taken, and how were they responding?

The nobles thought Sephira wouldn’t react appropriately. After all, Sephira was behind in information warfare and weak in politics.

But they didn’t know.

All the information from the Southern Sword Tournament was being transmitted to Sephira in real-time through Mail’s magic.

Sephira’s office.

Scratch, scratch.

A man was processing numerous documents. It wasn’t Basil. He was much younger and larger.

Also, two elders were assisting him with his work. The two elders who had regained their senses thanks to Keter, Panir and Leganon.

Between them was Sephira’s eldest son, Branch House Lord Hisop, who had returned to the family a few days ago.

Flip.

The office was filled with the sound of flipping through documents and the scratching of quills.

Thud.

Then, Hisop, who had put down his pen, stood up.

“It’s lunchtime. Let’s eat and then come back. Elder Panir, Elder Leganon.”

At Hisop’s words, Panir took off his glasses and said.

“Branch House Lord. If you’re thinking of sending us off and working alone again, forget it.”

Leganon, still holding his pen, chimed in.

“Young man, you shouldn’t abuse your body. Look at your father, Basil. He doesn’t show it, but the dark circles under his eyes are deep.”

Despite the elders’ words, Hisop smiled faintly and said.

“I’ll consider it the price of overworking you elders.”

“Really, Basil’s children are all so stubborn.”

As Panir grumbled, the office door opened. It was Chief Steward Subid.

In his hand was a single piece of parchment. The fact that it was sealed hinted at very important information.

“Branch House Lord.”

Subid bowed to Hisop and respectfully handed over the parchment with both hands. Hisop immediately passed it to Elder Panir.

“Please review it first with Elder Leganon.”

Hisop’s action of sharing important information without reservation pleased Subid.

“Chief Steward Subid. Any news from my father?”

Hisop’s question made Subid shake his head.

“No. But don’t worry. He’s eating much better than before. He seems to have found the will to live.”

The reason Basil wasn’t in the office, and Hisop was acting as the temporary family head, was that Basil had entered seclusion. It happened on the day he visited Sephira’s sanctuary.

“I can’t promise when he’ll come out. Call Hisop. As the temporary family head, you and the elders must guide this family well.”

With those words, Basil began his seclusion with Lunar Knight Commander Gasilious.

With Basil absent, Sephira’s key figures, Panir, Leganon, and Subid, were worried. Could Hisop lead the family well as the temporary family head?

Representing the family externally as the Branch House Lord and leading the family were entirely different realms.

Nearly 10,000 lives rested on his shoulders. The pressure was so great that even Basil had lived with a sense of burden every day.

Moreover, it was unclear how Hisop, who had suddenly gained power, would act. Power could turn even a kind farmer into a tyrant.

But all these worries were in vain… Hisop was steadfast. On the day he returned to the family, he personally ‘visited’ the chief steward and the two elders, bowing his head.

“If I have any shortcomings, no matter how small, please don’t hesitate to point them out. I beg of you.”

Thanks to Hisop’s proactive attitude, the Sephira family remained stable even without Basil. The soldiers, knights, and servants all trusted Hisop without question.

“Branch House Lord. We need to review this quickly.”

Panir gestured after reading the contents of the parchment Subid had delivered.

Leganon, who had also read the contents, stroked his chin with a serious expression.

Hisop also quickly reviewed the contents, and his expression changed moment by moment.

Surprise, joy, worry…

After reading the details of Keter’s actions and achievements in the first match, Battle Royal Group B, of the Southern Sword Tournament, Hisop wore a complex expression.

The two elders, who had read the contents earlier, were worried. Would Hisop resent Keter, or hold a grudge?

After all, Keter had achieved too much in a short time. And he was selling the Sephira name without the family head’s permission.

While Basil fully trusted Keter as his son, Hisop’s situation was different. He was a half-brother. They had never even met.

If Hisop publicly declared that ‘Sephira has no connection’ to Keter’s statements, Keter’s existence would be left hanging.

“I need to write a letter.”

At Hisop’s words, the two elders tensed.

“To Keter, telling him not to worry about Sephira and to act according to his beliefs.”

“……!”

But once again, the elders’ worries were unfounded. Hisop’s tone when mentioning Keter’s name was filled with pride.

“Archery is stronger than swordsmanship… Keter said what I’ve always wanted to say to the world, and it feels so refreshing.”

At Hisop’s words, Panir laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! That’s right, Branch House Lord! That Keter, he might not be good at much, but he sure knows how to speak his mind!”

In the cheerful atmosphere, only Leganon spoke with concern.

“The increased attention on Sephira means more interference. How will you respond, Branch House Lord? We will follow your lead.”

This was Leganon’s test. Did Hisop have what it takes to be the family head?

Hisop, having already thought it through, responded immediately.

“I will summon the Seven Stars.”

“……!”

“Hmm…”

The Seven Stars.

The seven strongest knights of Sephira.

Two seats were vacant, and five were currently on missions.

Knight Alkai had entered the Demon Realm with the kingdom’s greatest sword eight years ago-Mizar was at the border with the Baen Kingdom-Pekda and Merak were fighting monsters on the Demon Realm’s front lines-Dube had been dispatched to the Sammael Empire.

Among them, the realistically summonable Seven Stars were Mizar, Pekda, and Merak, who were at the border and front lines-

“The royal family won’t allow the Seven Stars to return. Unless we prepare an alternative to fill the gap.”

“To replace the Seven Stars, we’d have to send a commander-level knight, which would be like giving up an arm and a leg.”

The two elders expressed that summoning the Seven Stars without any cost was impossible, and even if possible, sending a commander-level knight in their place would be meaningless.

But Hisop shook his head.

“The royal family doesn’t want master-level power. They just want to deplete our family’s symbols.”

Once, as the Branch House Lord, Hisop had visited the dispatched knights in place of Basil, the family head.

What Hisop saw there wasn’t the active Sephira. Sephira’s knights were being neglected. They weren’t even given a chance to shine.

And it was no different for the Seven Stars, who were master-level.

Hisop lamented the poor treatment Sephira’s servants were enduring, and how the prosperity and safety the kingdom’s people should enjoy were being sacrificed for the nobles’ selfish desires.

But he didn’t reveal it. He had learned from history that rash opposition would only lead to stronger resistance. So he endured. Like a fool who knew nothing.

But when an opportunity arose, he didn’t hesitate. Now was that time.

“My brothers have gained fame in their first tournament. It won’t be lacking to exchange for the Seven Stars.”

“Anis and Taragon… Instead of the Seven Stars, you’ll send them to the border and front lines.”

“Are you serious, Branch House Lord?”

Even Panir, known for his boldness, was surprised, and Leganon, who would do anything for a goal, frowned.

“Branch House Lord. I’m worried that you might be sending your brothers, who have gained fame, to their deaths to keep them in check.”

The family traditionally followed ‘primogeniture’ to determine the family head. Especially if there wasn’t a significant difference in ability among the bloodline.

Of course, the next family head of Sephira was clearly Hisop. Basil had made it clear, and all his brothers agreed.

But human affairs are unpredictable. When one gains fame and receives people’s praise and cheers, greed naturally arises.

Or even if they don’t have such intentions, those around them whisper. That they are better than the eldest son, that they are qualified to be the family head.

Panir, who had once been a judge, had seen many such cases. The dirty and petty fights of younger brothers trying to usurp the family head’s position by exposing the eldest son’s incompetence.

Thus, it sometimes happened that the eldest son would suppress or eliminate his younger brothers.

Leganon was worried about exactly that. Would Hisop, fearing that his brothers, who had gained fame, might covet the family head’s position, find a good excuse to eliminate them?

Hisop’s attitude remained unwavering.

“Anis and Taragon can’t live a safe life in this family forever. Along with the experience they gained from participating in the Southern Sword Tournament, they need more experience. Even if it weren’t for summoning the Seven Stars, I had planned to send my brothers to the border and front lines.”

“Even if the Branch House Lord truly thinks that, the world won’t see it that way. They’ll point fingers at you, calling you cold-hearted. They’ll say you’re mad with power.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Anis and Taragon might resent you.”

“That also doesn’t matter.”

“Will you ignore it? The misunderstandings and anger that might never be resolved?”

“No. I will embrace it all.”

“Why do you willingly take on such trials?”

“Because I believe it’s the responsibility I must bear as the family head.”

Panir and Leganon stared into Hisop’s eyes. They weren’t the eyes of someone swept up in the moment, speaking carelessly. They were the eyes of someone who had long been prepared, without a hint of wavering.

* * *

Eslow’s direct jurisdiction is filled with restaurants for nobles.

But if you had to pick the best restaurant, everyone would say ‘Lagrande.’

Lagrande had a unique feature that set it apart from other restaurants: it was run by a chef from the culinary nation of Belferio.

Belferio’s chefs are different from chefs of other nations. They are both chefs and hunters, famous for sourcing their ingredients themselves.

They aren’t afraid to fight monsters for blood and flesh or enter forests filled with monsters to pick fruits.

Culinary Intent. Their cooking has a concrete purpose and heart, and unlike ordinary dishes, they can provide special effects immediately upon consumption. For example, relieving fatigue or easing shoulder pain.

To sum it all up: Lag