Chapter 246

Chapter 247. You Can’t Pass (2)

The capital of the Lilian Kingdom, Grissa.

At dawn, just as the sun was rising, an unexpected state of alert was declared. The reason was an unidentified dust cloud charging toward the capital.

The thunderous sound, dust, and shockwaves racing across the plains looked like magic, yet also resembled a bull charging at an unbelievable speed.

To stop this, four 6th-circle court mages were mobilized, and they cast a 7th-circle spell to firmly block the charge.

**Dimension Barrier.**

A top-tier defensive spell that separates space from space, blocking all physical attacks.

However, the scene of the Dimension Barrier in action never came. The dust storm, which had been charging like mad, began to slow down on its own and eventually stopped right in front of them.

What they thought was a dust storm turned out to be people.

Keter with a refreshed expression, Daat looking exhausted, and the expressionless Decameron. Behind them, the rest of the party was gasping for breath, completely drained.

“…Keter El Sephira, the illegitimate child of Sephira.”

One of the court mages floating in the air descended, calling Keter’s name. The middle-aged man had a very strict demeanor.

“You have violated the sacred laws of the kingdom. Sephira is not a family permitted to use magic. Therefore, we will arrest everyone, including Hisop, the acting head of the family.”

Stepping forward in response to his words was neither Daat nor Keter. It was Chacole, the court mage who had followed Keter to the end.

“Don’t talk nonsense, Court Mage Hamon.”

“…Court Mage Chacole. Why are you with Sephira?”

“That’s… *sigh*, let me catch my breath first. Even with magical assistance, running all day is still exhausting.”

*Splash!*

Chacole washed his face with water conjured by magic, then tapped the ground with his staff.

“Anyway! Sephira didn’t use magic. I guarantee it, Hamon.”

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but it seems you want to defend Sephira. Do you really believe that without magical assistance, one person—let alone a group—could move at such high speeds? Surely, wind magic must have been involved.”

“You won’t believe it just by words. That’s how mages are. Prince Keter, it’s bothersome, but show them. How you got here.”

Chacole winked, giving a look that said, *’I set the stage. Did I do well?’*

Keter chuckled. He had planned to show the Acceleration Gateway even if Chacole hadn’t stepped in, but seeing the white-haired old man acting like a puppy seeking praise wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

*Whoosh!*

With a single gesture from Keter, the Acceleration Gateway appeared.

Hamon flinched as he felt the mana surge following Keter’s gesture, then was startled upon seeing the Acceleration Gateway.

‘A structure made of mana? No, it’s something else. What is this?’

Outwardly, the Acceleration Gateway looked like two pillars with something like a barrier covering them. It could be mistaken for a defensive shield, but its purpose was completely unclear.

Chacole, as if it were his own magic, placed his hand on the pillar and said, “Don’t just stand there staring. Come and see for yourself.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“Tsk, tsk, can you really call yourself a mage if you’re that scared? Fine, I’ll demonstrate.”

Chacole picked up a pebble from the ground and tossed it through the gateway. The pebble, which had been flying normally, accelerated dramatically upon passing through the gateway and then vanished.

Hamon’s eyes widened in shock at the phenomenon before him.

“The pebble… accelerated?”

As Hamon was stunned, Chacole smirked.

“It’s called the Acceleration Gateway. Anything that passes through this gateway doubles in speed. Even people.”

“So the secret to high-speed movement is… this gateway!”

“Exactly! Now do you understand? We’ll be on our way.”

“Wait. This Acceleration Gateway is clearly magic, isn’t it? You’ve shown the evidence right before my eyes. Thank you for your help, Chacole.”

“Magic? Maagic? Hahaha! Are you seriously calling this magic?”

Chacole burst into laughter, causing Hamon’s expression to twist.

“What’s so funny, Chacole? If a structure made of mana isn’t magic, then what is it?”

“Judging by your expression, you really don’t know. Magic refers to circle magic! Does this Acceleration Gateway look like it was made with circle magic? I understand your desire to uphold the law as a public official, but as a mage, shouldn’t you first discern right from wrong?”

“……!”

“Is everything that uses mana considered magic? No. There must be a ‘magic formula’ for it to be magic. That’s the fundamental principle of magic recognized by this country and mages worldwide. Everything else is considered sorcery or supernatural abilities. Of course, the Acceleration Gateway created by Prince Keter is something entirely new—neither sorcery nor supernatural ability—but it’s definitely not magic.”

“Court Mage Chacole. Why are you so protective of Keter? It’s as if you’ve been bribed.”

Hamon, suspicious of Chacole’s perfect defense, pressed him. But Chacole didn’t even blink, maintaining his smile.

“I was simply reminded of the old teaching that mages must pursue truth. What is truth? Truth is reality. I only spoke the truth. If you truly believe Keter used magic, bring evidence to support it. Like I did.”

“…For now, I’ll believe you. That the Acceleration Gateway isn’t magic. But!”

Hamon turned his gaze to Keter.

“This time, I’ll let it slide, but remember, Prince Keter, the royal family is watching you.”

Hamon’s body began to rise. Chacole followed him.

“It’s been fun coming this far. Unfortunately, I must take my leave now. My position demands it. I can’t be away for too long.”

Chacole spoke with regret, but Keter responded nonchalantly.

“If you want to meet again, just come visit.”

Taking Keter’s words as permission to visit again, Chacole nodded with a touched expression.

Hamon looked at Chacole as if he were a strange person and shook his head.

* * *

Although some knights from the Blitz family had dropped out along the way, the Sephira party safely arrived at the capital, Grissa. In just three short days.

Initially, Hisop had expected the journey to be dangerous and grueling. Of course, he wasn’t wrong. Running all day without sleep left him utterly exhausted. He felt like he might lose his mind.

Moreover, it wasn’t just running—it was forced high-speed running. If he let go of the tension for even a moment, he could fall and die on the spot.

Not wanting to be recorded in history as the head of the family who “died from falling,” Hisop ran with all his might.

“Is this really okay?”

Hisop muttered to himself, too tired to think. He was still better off than most.

“Hahaha! Isn’t this exciting? Or is it just me? Ahahaha!”

Haribo was abnormally energetic.

Seeing this, Catherine said to Daat, “I think he’s really reached his limit.”

“For a first-timer, he did well.”

Daat looked at Keter. At that moment, Keter also looked at Daat, and their eyes met.

They arrived quickly at the capital. This much was according to their plan.

But now they had four days to spare. What to do during that time was being decided right now.

“Maknun, take our brother into the royal palace first. I’ll join you after taking care of some business.”

Though the words were brief, Daat, who had been with Keter for decades, perfectly understood their meaning.

*’I’ll cause a distraction outside to divert attention. Meanwhile, you gather information inside the royal palace.’*

Daat nodded in agreement, and Keter gave a meaningful smile.

Thus, the party entered the royal palace without even having time to sightsee in the capital.

Hisop didn’t object to this. He knew that staying in the capital without entering the royal palace wouldn’t lead to anything good.

In fact, he felt relieved that Keter wasn’t accompanying them into the royal palace. At least until then, he could rest easy.

After parting ways with the group, Keter and Decameron didn’t go far. Instead, they settled nearby.

The Lilian royal palace had one peculiar feature: it was connected to the outside by only one path. An incredibly long bridge, with a cliff below, was the sole entrance. Made entirely of silver, this bridge was often referred to as the “Queen’s Bridge” in a double entendre.

Not long after the Sephira party crossed the bridge, a group of people appeared at its entrance.

A middle-aged man in a gray bear coat, accompanied by four knights, looked around the palace with a sense of nostalgia.

“To think I’d come back here.”

His tone carried more negativity than positivity, but as soon as he took a step onto the bridge…

*Whoosh!*

Keter, who had been lying in the center of the bridge, suddenly stood up.

“…?!”

The middle-aged man, who hadn’t noticed Keter due to the slight elevation, was startled but quickly composed himself.

“State your affiliation.”

The man didn’t recognize Keter. Keter, unfazed, replied, “Sephira.”

“Sephira? Why is Sephira blocking my path?”

“Who are you?”

“You don’t even know who this man is, yet you block his way?!”

One of the man’s escort knights stepped forward, looking ready to strike Keter at any moment.

*Thud!*

With just that, Keter immediately knocked the knight out with a punch to the jaw. Then he shrugged.

“Self-defense.”

Seeing his escort knight taken down in one hit, the middle-aged man’s expression sharpened.

*A 4-star knight taken down with one punch? Even if he was caught off guard, to be defeated so easily… He’s no ordinary man.*

Outwardly, Keter didn’t look particularly weak or strong. He was just… ambiguous.

But sensing something off, the middle-aged man raised his guard and introduced himself.

“I am Durian El Raisel, head of the Raisel family from the north. I would like to formally ask your name.”

“Keter.”

“Keter? I feel like I’ve heard that name before.”

As Durian looked puzzled, his subordinate answered, “My lord. He’s the one who recently became the Southern Sword.”

“Ah, right, I remember. Not the Southern Sword, but the Southern Palace, as they call it. So it’s you.”

“If you’re looking for someone famous in Sephira, it’s probably just me.”

“Strange. Our Raisel family has never had any issues with Sephira. Why are you blocking my path?”

“It’s not because you’re from the Raisel family. I’m conducting a pass inspection.”

“A pass…?”

Durian looked at his subordinate, who panicked and said, “I’ve never heard of needing a pass to cross the Queen’s Bridge.”

“Is that so, Prince Keter? Even if the law has changed to require a pass, why are you the one inspecting it?”

“Because the authority to issue passes lies with Sephira.”

“…?”

“Do you not have a pass?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then go get one.”

“Hahaha, enough joking. Now, step aside.”

Keter, with his arms crossed, didn’t respond. Durian, who had been smiling leisurely, now spoke seriously.

“I left my sword behind since weapons aren’t allowed in the royal palace, but haven’t you heard that northerners’ fists are as sharp as swords?”

Durian was both the head of his family and a warrior. His massive build and scars proved it.

Moreover, even if Keter had taken down one knight by surprise, Durian still had two more escort knights.

Naturally, they stepped forward as well. The men in bear coats clenched their fists, looking as threatening as actual bears.

But Keter, with his right hand behind his back, provocatively gestured with his left.

“Looks like I’ll have to show you just how painfully strong Sephira’s fists are.”