Chapter 184

Chapter 185. Politics Under the Name of a Party (1)

“I refuse.”

Keter spoke up abruptly.

Eslow crossed his legs.

“I didn’t say anything yet.”

“I thought you were going to tell me to marry Henya.”

“Why refuse?”

Eslow’s question wasn’t a simple one. It was a demand for an explanation after his words were casually dismissed.

The tone carried an unspoken threat—if Keter couldn’t provide a clear reason, there would be consequences.

But Keter wasn’t flustered. This wasn’t his first time dealing with such a situation.

‘If you want to live as someone exceptional, this kind of coercion is inevitable.’

Back in Ruquer, there were too many people who tried to force him to marry their daughters. If you included the women who directly pressured him, even counting toes wouldn’t be enough.

All of them were stronger than Keter at the time—both physically and in terms of influence.

But Keter’s answer was always the same.

“I refuse.”

And the reason was always the same.

Even now, it hadn’t changed. Even if the other party was a lord.

“I swore to my soul that I would never live a life bound by coercion.”

“…A foolish choice. The coercion of the strong is inevitable. You, as a strong one yourself, must have coerced others at some point. So you know better than anyone. Yet, you want to live enjoying rights without responsibility?”

“I already live bearing responsibility. I pay the price for both coercion and refusing coercion.”

“Then are you prepared to pay the price for refusing my coercion?”

Eslow stood up.

Though he wasn’t holding a weapon, the mere act of standing made Keter feel an overwhelming pressure, as if his neck was on the chopping block.

But Keter didn’t back down or show fear. This was routine in Ruquer.

Taking a step forward even when there’s a cliff ahead.

Jumping even when you know you’ll fall.

That was Keter’s life.

“Isn’t that the fate of someone exceptional?”

Keter took a step closer to Eslow, despite the increasing pressure.

Eslow’s brow furrowed.

“It won’t end with just your life. Your family, your relatives. They will all face misfortunes worse than death. All because you refused my coercion.”

“I don’t think so. If you wish to bring down Sephira, that’s your will, not because I refused coercion.”

“Even if you think that, Sephira will resent you.”

“The resentment of the ignorant is empty. I don’t care about such things.”

“Even if your family resents you, you don’t care because they’re ignorant?”

“They’ll be annoyed. Angry, even. But what can I do?”

Keter took another step forward. A thin line appeared on his neck, and blood began to seep.

Keter’s body, which had withstood Norman’s attacks like an iron fortress, was now cut by Eslow’s mere killing intent.

One more step, and Keter’s head would fall. If Eslow didn’t retract his killing intent.

“Expecting everything to be perfect is the dumbest thing in the world.”

Keter took the final step.

* * *

Eslow found Keter quite likable.

His talent, conviction, and lineage… Even his arrogant personality was more amusing than unpleasant.

That’s why he chose him as Henya’s partner. He was certain that a child born between Henya and Keter would possess extraordinary talent.

If Henya, carrying such a child, were to be ‘weaponized’…

‘The final piece to escape Lilian’s curse would be complete.’

It wouldn’t be a bad deal for Keter either. Henya was the daughter of a lord, after all.

Sephira’s status had risen significantly after this competition, but that was it. Sephira was still the weakest among the prestigious families.

But with the backing of a lord like himself, everything could become perfect.

Externally, Henya had no shortcomings. She was undoubtedly a charming woman. There was no reason for Keter to refuse.

Yet, Keter refused.

Without even hearing the main point, without being told the conditions, he preemptively struck as soon as he saw Henya dressed up.

Eslow was displeased.

He clearly held Keter in high regard, but this time, Keter had clearly crossed a line. He had greatly offended Eslow’s pride.

Especially with his vow to refuse the coercion of the strong, Eslow was astonished.

‘You dare to live upholding what countless strong ones in this world couldn’t?’

Even Eslow himself couldn’t refuse Lilian’s ‘coercion.’

Yet, Keter declares he will live refusing coercion and even bear the responsibility.

The insane idea of willingly accepting not just his own death but the destruction of his entire community left even Eslow wide-eyed.

If it were just bravado, he would have laughed it off. But Keter was serious.

He proved it not with words but with actions. Facing Eslow’s killing intent, he walked forward without retreating or defending.

With a blade at his throat, he stakes his life to assert his will.

Does he not know that taking that final step will cost him his head?

He must know. He’s a talent who has undergone rebirth. He knows better than anyone that he shouldn’t take that final step.

Yet, Keter stepped forward without a moment’s hesitation. Without a trace of doubt or trembling.

Instead, he coerces Eslow in reverse. If you don’t want to kill me, retract your killing intent.

Isn’t coercion the privilege of the strong? So why is Keter, the weaker one, ‘coercing’ him?

Eslow felt an emotion he couldn’t believe rising within him.

It was anger, fear, and envy. That Keter, who could die with a single gesture from him, staked his life knowing that fact.

Death isn’t fair. The more you have, the more unjust death becomes.

Keter has much.

At the young age of eighteen, in his prime. A scion of a prestigious family, strong enough to approach the level of a 6-star Grandmaster. He had even gained honor by becoming the Southern Palace.

It had only been a full day since he achieved that. Yet, he was willing to throw it all away and die. Could such a being exist in this world?

Eslow was envious. Of Keter’s conviction, his will to face death without fear despite having everything.

‘To think I would feel jealousy.’

Originally, Eslow had no intention of killing Keter.

But now, he genuinely wanted to kill him.

The situation was favorable too. He wouldn’t be the one killing. Keter was throwing his life onto Eslow’s blade, which was merely held steady.

Thus, he wouldn’t expend causality.

‘If I can’t control you, then just die, Keter.’

Eslow didn’t retract his killing intent. He wanted Keter to die like this.

But Eslow failed to notice that there was someone in this room who didn’t want Keter to die.

Swoosh!

A cutting sound echoed.

But it wasn’t from Keter’s neck. It was the sound of Henya’s muscles and bones being split.

She had moved at lightning speed to block Keter’s path. Instead of his head falling, Henya’s back was split open, and a fountain of blood gushed out.

Even Eslow, with all his focus on Keter, reacted too late. His delayed retraction of killing intent left a deep wound on Henya’s back.

“Henya…!”

Eslow completely retracted his killing intent and examined Henya’s wound. Fortunately, it wasn’t fatal.

At that moment, Henya clearly saw.

Those weren’t the eyes of a father worried for his daughter. They were the eyes of a ‘martial artist’ worried that a precious ‘tool’ had been damaged.

Henya felt a chill, and the pain didn’t register.

“Why did you protect Keter?”

Eslow, now sure Henya’s life wasn’t in danger, pressed her.

Henya, ignoring her wound and pain, straightened her back and answered.

“I wasn’t protecting Keter. I was protecting myself.”

“…?”

“I don’t accept your coercion to decide my marriage partner for me.”

“You’ve learned bad things from Keter. You shouldn’t be like this.”

“I can’t live like Keter. But I realized that protecting what’s precious is something I must do myself.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t marry Keter. I already have someone I like.”

“…!”

Both Eslow and Keter were shocked.

‘Bold, isn’t she?’

Henya’s lover is Wid. A commoner boy, Wid. Was it wise to introduce Wid to Eslow now?

Keter coldly thought it was like introducing a pet as one’s lover.

But he had no intention of stopping her.

‘Henya, you must have some plan to step forward like this.’

Keter didn’t step in to help Henya. In such a situation, stepping in would only be a hindrance.

Eslow stared at Henya silently.

Blood dripped from Henya’s back, forming a puddle on the ground. The bleeding hadn’t stopped, but no one in the room seemed to care.

‘It doesn’t seem like a lie.’

Henya’s eyes weren’t those of someone lying. She genuinely had someone she was dating.

‘Who could it be?’

Eslow knew almost everything about Henya, if not everything.

Among the people she met, there was absolutely no one who could be called a lover.

Eslow knew of Wid’s existence, of course, but he never dreamed of considering Wid as a lover. The status difference was absurdly vast.

A commoner and royalty. It’s a status gap even fairy tales rarely touch.

Especially for Lord Eslow, a commoner boy like Wid was less than a pet, more like a fish.

Yet, his daughter was dating such a fish-like being. He had never imagined such a thing.

“It’s disappointing that you’ve been seeing someone without this father’s knowledge.”

“You wouldn’t have allowed it.”

“Of course not. You haven’t forgotten, have you? It doesn’t matter who you bring, but they must have the ability to withstand my strike.”

Henya nodded. Eslow also nodded and said.

“Tell me who it is.”

“I can’t tell you now.”

“Surely, you’re not dating some bug who can’t even withstand my strike, are you?”

“Let me ask you one thing first. If you wanted to pair me with Keter, does that mean Keter can withstand your strike?”

Henya’s gaze turned to Keter. Eslow also looked at Keter.

Keter shook his head first.

“Impossible.”

Having seen Eslow’s divine might fighting undead in Deep Dark Fantasy, Keter coldly judged his own realm. There was no way he could withstand Eslow’s strike now.

Back then, Eslow wasn’t even fighting at full strength. He was leisurely fighting while analyzing new forms of undead.

‘At that time, Eslow didn’t even use 1% of his power.’

Keter’s declaration of impossibility wasn’t to side with Henya but to state the harsh reality.

Eslow, who also held Keter in high regard, thought otherwise.

“One year. In one year, Keter could grow to a level where he can withstand my strike.”

Henya’s eyes sparkled at Eslow’s words.

“Then give me one year too.”

“Hmm?”

“In one year. My lover will prove he can withstand your strike and qualify as your son-in-law.”

“Hmm…”

Eslow pondered.

Keter was surprised by this scene.

‘What are you planning to do?’

Even for him, it would be tough, but Wid was a complete novice in combat.

Could such a guy grow enough in one year to withstand Eslow’s strike?

‘Even selling your soul to the devil a hundred times wouldn’t be enough.’

Keter, who rarely said something was impossible, thought this was too reckless.

‘Is she planning to run away in a year? Or find another way?’

Neither seemed realistic.

Keter genuinely began to wonder what plan Henya had in mind.