Chapter 240

Chapter 241. The Lord Summoning Order (1)

With Keter and Daat being the last, all the key figures of the family had gathered. Hisop, as if time was precious, got straight to the point.

“The Lord Summoning Order has been issued.”

At those words, some of those gathered were surprised. But most were unaware of what it meant.

“Chief Steward Subid. Please explain what the Lord Summoning Order is.”

At Hisop’s words, Subid stepped forward.

“The Lord Summoning Order is, as the name suggests, a first-class command directly issued by Her Majesty the Queen, requiring all lords to gather at the royal palace.”

“……!”

“Her Majesty is summoning all the lords?!”

This wasn’t a simple gathering to pass the time or see each other’s faces. It was a special directive from the Queen herself.

Hearing this, Keter also stroked his chin.

“Can we assume that Queen Lilian, who has been absent, has returned, Chief Steward Subid?”

At Keter’s question, Subid shook his head.

“That, I cannot confirm.”

The Queen’s absence. Everyone who knows, knows. The fact that the Queen has been absent for several years.

Then, Daat interjected into the conversation.

“It’s not just the Queen who can issue a Lord Summoning Order. I found out… Crown Prince Rukan also has the authority to issue a Lord Summoning Order. This Lord Summoning Order must be Crown Prince Rukan’s will.”

“Do you have any idea why Crown Prince Rukan issued the Lord Summoning Order?”

Keter knew. This Lord Summoning Order must be a crucial meeting to decide the vote for or against the civil war.

Daat, who had heard future information from Keter, also knew. He could inform Hisop and everyone here of all the information if he wanted to—but information is sometimes valuable only when known by a few, so he didn’t.

“Only the Crown Prince knows the reason, but he certainly didn’t call us just to socialize. It must be an important matter related to the survival of this country and the House of Sephira.”

“Hmm…….”

“May I continue, Chief Steward Subid?”

“Please do.”

Chief Steward Subid sat down. Instead, Daat, who had gained the right to speak, walked to the center of the conference room.

“The Lord Summoning Order is not a simple matter of gathering at the royal palace for a meeting… We must also hold an event called ‘The Path of Glory.'”

“…This Path of Glory is quite barbaric. In short, we must ‘walk’ to the royal palace. From the moment the summoning order is issued, all spatial movement magic is banned throughout the kingdom. Lords are also prohibited from using any means of transportation. Absolutely! We must arrive at the royal palace on our own two feet.”

At Daat’s explanation, Mail raised his hand.

“That’s strange. The royal palace isn’t at the center of the country. It’s between the north and the west. Even if it were at the center, there are families on the outskirts of the country. The distance each family must travel varies greatly, yet all lords must walk?”

“Yes. Even upper nobles and prestigious families are no exception.”

“Another question. Teleportation is magic, so I understand how they can detect that, but how does the royal palace monitor whether we’re using transportation or not? Are there watchers sent out from the palace?”

“The last Lord Summoning Order was 70 years ago. It’s said that nothing like that happened then. So, they either use another method of monitoring, or they leave it to our conscience… something like that.”

“It must be magic.”

The Lilian Kingdom strictly ‘controls’ the use of magic, not ‘bans’ it. The convenience of magic is that absolute.

Then, the Holy Knight Commander stood up and spoke.

“It might just be a test of courage. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense. Our Sephira is located at the southern edge. Even if we changed horses and ran without rest, it would take six days to reach the royal palace. But walking that distance on foot? Even a master-level knight running would realistically take ten days.”

“A master-level knight running would take ten days, that’s a bit problematic. Because after the Lord Summoning Order is issued, we must arrive at the royal palace within exactly one week.”

“One week?!”

“We must leave right now!”

The conference room buzzed. If Daat’s words were all true, Sephira might not even make it to the royal palace on time even if they ran now.

Hisop, the temporary lord, is at the 2-star realm. It’s nearly impossible for Hisop, a 2-star, to endure the arduous journey that even a master would take ten days to complete.

Amidst the conflicting opinions of those who said they should leave immediately and those who said they should prepare and then leave, Elder Leganon raised his hand, and the conference room quieted down as if nothing had happened.

“No matter how tight the time is, does it make sense for the lord of a family, responsible for tens of thousands of people, to run to the royal palace, sweating and covered in dust?”

“……!”

At Leganon’s words, they realized a fact they had forgotten.

As he said, imagining the lord of a family, responsible for tens of thousands, running to the royal palace, sweating and covered in dust, made their chests burn with frustration.

“There is a record of Sephira’s previous lord, Lord Emmental, attending a Lord Summoning Order. From start to finish, very detailed.”

“How did Lord Emmental get to the royal palace?”

Mail urgently asked, but Leganon calmly replied.

“He walked. Just him and an attendant.”

“……!”

“At walking speed, it’s absolutely impossible to reach the royal palace. Even a month wouldn’t be enough. Moreover, if it was the Lord Summoning Order 70 years ago, wasn’t the Queen at the royal palace? In that situation, if we don’t arrive at the royal palace on time… Sephira wouldn’t remain intact.”

“But Lord Emmental is recorded to have arrived at the royal palace on time.”

“Huh? That’s impossible! Without teleportation or transportation…….”

“How was it written that he arrived at the royal palace?”

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing was written except that he walked with an attendant. Lord Emmental must have deliberately not recorded it.”

“……?!”

Just when a solution seemed in sight, they reached the conclusion that it was a dead end, and everyone was frustrated.

Then, Keter stood up and spoke.

“Now that we’ve all panicked, shall we start getting ready to leave?”

* * *

Keter’s status is undoubtedly at the top of Sephira. To put it bluntly, on par with the lord.

This means that even if Keter suddenly slaps Hisop’s cheek, there would be plenty of people who would interpret it as him slapping to protect Hisop from danger.

But this time, everyone vehemently opposed.

“Is there a need to rush when we don’t know what will happen? If we’re going to be late anyway, it’s not bad to see how other lords act before leaving.”

“I agree with that opinion. There doesn’t seem to be any benefit in rushing.”

“For the escort, take at least captain-level knights or the Big Dipper. If we’re going to be late anyway, it’s better to go as safely as possible.”

Several key figures proposed realistic, safe alternatives.

They weren’t entirely wrong. But Keter didn’t like the answers.

“Maknun. What do you think? Is it better to go right away, or do we need time to prepare thoroughly?”

If it were the old Keter, he would have gone with a ‘shut up and follow me’ approach because persuading was bothersome, but now he had Maknun to persuade for him, so he took a slightly more lenient approach.

Maknun, knowing Keter’s personality well, answered immediately.

“Thorough preparation itself is a waste of time. We can assess the situation after we leave. Besides, you’re coming too, right?”

“Of course.”

Keter is with Hisop. It was a reassuring yet worrying statement.

“And, I’m coming too.”

Keter and Daat stand by Hisop’s side. With Decameron and Keter almost being one, it becomes nearly impossible for even Prime to harm Hisop.

But if this journey is only about safety, what meaning does it hold for Sephira?

Keter doesn’t care about such things, but Daat had all those political aspects in mind.

Of course, even so, the key figures couldn’t rest easy.

“If we’re going to leave first and think later, we must attach three squads of the Lunar Knight Order as escorts. If something happens to Lord Hisop, it will be uncontrollable.”

“Everyone acknowledges that Young Master Keter is strong. But can he handle all unexpected situations? If things go wrong and both Lord Hisop and Young Master Keter are harmed, Sephira will… face an unprecedented downturn.”

Their concerns were reasonable. In Sephira now, Hisop and Keter’s positions are not limited to just being the branch lord and the Southern Palace.

Exaggerating, these two are the entirety of Sephira. If these two were to lose their lives, it would be an event equivalent to the fall of Sephira.

Just as Daat was about to persuade them, Keter blurted out a remark.

“Have I ever disappointed Sephira before?”

“……!”

“I hope Sephira doesn’t disappoint me either. Let’s trust and rely on each other.”

“…….”

“No matter what basis I provide, the moment to choose whether to believe or not will inevitably come. Will you hesitate then? Probably not. You’ll make up some reason. Let’s not do such troublesome things, okay? What a waste of time and emotions.”

“Ugh…….”

“Anyway, the choice is up to the lord.”

Keter looked at Hisop. Ultimately, the decision lies with the lord of the family, and currently, even if temporary, the lord is Hisop.

Hisop looked into Keter’s eyes. Keter also looked back, and seeing that gaze, Hisop immediately nodded.

“We can worry while we leave. I agree with that opinion. So, let’s leave right now.”

The lord made the decision. The key figures could no longer argue.

“It would be good to take at least two competent and trustworthy knights with us.”

At Daat’s words, the key figures also nodded.

No matter how safe Hisop is, it’s unlikely that Keter and Daat will ‘sincerely escort’ Hisop.

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

At Hisop’s question, Daat nodded immediately.

* * *

“I will do my best to assist you, Lord Hisop.”

Catherine prostrated herself before Hisop. Hisop grabbed her shoulders and helped her up, saying.

“Thank you for your hard work, Knight Catherine. And…….”

The knight standing next to Catherine had a somewhat bewildered expression.

“Knight Haribo.”

“Yes, Lord Hisop! It’s an honor to be with you!”

“You seem very nervous. Are you okay?”

Catherine is the most reliable and competent knight recognized by everyone in Sephira, but Haribo, a member of the Constellation Knight Order. How did he end up being chosen as one of the two knights to accompany them on the Path of Glory?

He was originally just a knight stationed at a fortress near Hakoz Village, adjacent to the Adeus Kingdom.

When he came to deal with Baydant’s knights and clean up the aftermath, he briefly met Keter.

At that time, he showed boldness by wanting to align with Keter, who was treated as a mere illegitimate child in Sephira, but Keter was so busy moving around that he was soon forgotten.

But Keter clearly remembered Haribo’s name and face, and when he saw him passing by, he called out to him.

“Hey! Haribo!”

Keter called out as if calling a neighborhood friend.

Haribo had just returned to the family from the fortress for a vacation.

“Y-You called, Prince Keter?”

In just half a year, Keter’s status had completely changed. From an illegitimate child of Sephira to having the respectable title of the Southern Palace, Sephira’s savior.

Haribo honestly thought Keter had completely forgotten about him, abandoned him, and he didn’t resent it. There was no reason for even himself to care about such an insignificant person.

He thought Keter called him now just to remember that time, or simply to give him an errand.

“Do you still want to rise in status?”

“…Yes?”

“You trust your own judgment, right? Use that judgment to look at me again. How about it? Do you think being involved with me will make you unhappy or happy?”

Haribo was genuinely surprised. Keter remembered everything.

The events of that time, even the words he had said, Keter remembered everything.

Haribo’s chest swelled, and tears almost came out, but he couldn’t show such an embarrassing appearance, so he held back and said.

“I think it’s all up to me!”

It might be embarrassing for a grown adult to speak so boldly to Keter, who hadn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony, but Haribo was steadfast.

Keter winked at Daat beside him.

‘How does he look to you?’

Daat shrugged.

‘Well, so-so.’

If Daat says he’s so-so usable, then he’s usable. Keter decided immediately.

“Haribo, do you have a family?”

“My father died honorably as a knight of Sephira, and I have a mother and a younger brother!”

“Children?”

“I’m married, but not yet!”

“Have a lot of kids quickly.”

“Yes, understood!”

“Wow, you didn’t even ask why and just said you understood?”

“I thought there was no need to ask why!”

“I know you’re bold, so lower your voice. And the reason I told you to have kids is that your chances of dying are high.”

“…….”

Haribo gulped. His desire to succeed was stronger than anyone’s, but his desire not to die was also great.

“I’ve seen a lot of guys like you. Really full of ambition. Full of passion. But, guys like you always die early. That passion is too much.”

“…….”

“Do you smoke?”

“No, I don’t!”

“Maknun.”

Before Keter could even speak, Maknun had already taken out a cigarette and matches and handed them to Keter.

“Take it.”

Keter handed the cigarette.

Haribo quickly put the cigarette in his mouth.

Snap!

Keter lit the cigarette directly with a match.

“Suck. That’s how the cigarette lights.”

“Cough cough!”

“Strong?”

“Yes, strong.”

“All I can do for you when you die is hand you a cigarette like this.”

“……!”

“I don’t know if you’ll live a long life and die happily if you’re not involved with me, but at least you won’t die unjustly. But if you’re involved with me, you might die a dog’s death. Do you still want to be involved with me?”

“Yes, I want to rise in status. I want to become stronger, and I want my descendants to live well.”

“Even if you’re not there?”

“Yes.”

“Go.”

Keter gestured as if the matter was over.

Haribo left as instructed.

But for a whole week, there was no contact.

From the conversation, it seemed like he would be taken under Keter’s wing and trained, or given some important task, but in reality, nothing happened.

Then, today, something happened. While on duty at the fortress as usual, Haribo received urgent news.

“Captain Haribo! You are to return to the family’s main building immediately!”

“Me? Why?”

Without knowing why, he returned, and only then did he find out. That he had become one of the two knights to accompany them on the Path of Glory for the Lord Summoning Order.

Keter placed his hand on Haribo’s shoulder and said.

“Are you ready to rise in status?”

His body trembled with tension, but Haribo answered firmly.

“Yes!”

And so, all preparations were complete.

Led by Hisop, with Keter, Daat, Decameron—

And the escort knights Catherine and Haribo, a total of six people entered the Path of Glory.