Chapter 269

Chapter 270. Victory is Just a Side Dish (7)

Whenever Sephira’s vassals discussed strategies, there was one word that almost always came up.

“If Prince Keter takes the lead and seizes the initiative, the follow-up forces will sweep through…”

“If the vanguard weakens the enemy’s formation with a concentrated attack, Prince Keter will finish them off…”

“We’ll disguise people with similar builds to Prince Keter and deploy them to confuse the enemy!”

Every single one of their strategies included Keter.

That was only natural. Keter’s archery was like magic. Who else could cause a massive explosion with a single arrow and attack hundreds of people at once?

To Sephira’s vassals, Keter wasn’t just an archer—he was like a Great Sorcerer. Frankly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Keter could single-handedly change the tide of war.

But Keter himself wasn’t pleased with that.

“Listen up, bros. You guys rely on me too much. Even if I bust my ass to win alone, that’s not Sephira’s victory. It’s mine. Right? Isn’t that right?”

Keter’s words grew shorter. Given his tendency to only show respect to those he deemed worthy, this was a clear sign of his disappointment with Sephira.

The vassals sighed. Though Keter’s words were harsh, they weren’t so foolish as to not understand his meaning.

Hisop, who was sensitive to the political climate, particularly agreed with Keter’s sentiment.

“Honestly, there’s a lot of public opinion that without Keter, Sephira is nothing. Of course, I don’t agree with that. Even without Keter, Sephira stands strong. We’re not a family that would be nothing without him.”

While the vassals agreed with Hisop, they couldn’t help but glance nervously at Keter. They were worried that the unruly Keter might threaten, “Oh? Then I won’t participate in the family war,” and what they would do if that happened.

But Hisop, unfazed, continued.

“However, outsiders don’t see it that way. They’re more excited about Keter, who became the Southern Palace in just half a year, than the achievements Sephira has shown over the past decade. Keter has accomplished everything Sephira couldn’t. He opened the tightly sealed gates of Sephira, and thanks to him, our interactions with the nobles have improved. There’s no doubt that these are Keter’s achievements. But does that mean Sephira has just been sitting back and watching?”

“No! Our Holy Knight Order has never had a mission success rate below 90% in the past decade!”

“The Constellation Knight Order is the same. Our survival rate and contribution rate during deployments are both over 90%.”

“Our Lunar Knight Order has subdued named monsters using only archery, without a single casualty.”

Though they didn’t boast about it, Sephira’s knights had many remarkable achievements, quietly fulfilling their duties.

The administrative leaders, too, began to reveal their hidden accomplishments.

Hisop, for one, knew it all. He knew that everyone in Sephira had been working hard for the family.

“I know everything you’ve said is true. That’s why I can stand tall and confidently say, ‘Sephira is strong. We just haven’t shown it yet.'”

“Well said!”

“Sephira is strong! Even without Prince Keter, we can win!”

The Holy Knight Commander’s bold words suddenly chilled the atmosphere. Even the brave Elder Panir spoke with a serious expression.

“Keter is the one who made this position possible. Be careful with your words.”

Other vassals openly criticized the Holy Knight Commander.

“Have you been drinking? Calm down.”

“Are you repaying kindness with enmity?”

“My apologies. I misspoke.”

The Holy Knight Commander quickly apologized. Keter chuckled and said,

“As the Lord said, if only my efforts are present in the family war, even if Sephira wins, it won’t be a true victory. In fact, we’ll be looked down upon even more. By the enemy, and by me.”

“…?!”

“Don’t get me wrong. I have no intention of sacrificing myself to elevate Sephira. Quite the opposite.”

*Bam!*

Keter slammed the table and swept his gaze over everyone present.

“Listen up. I can pretend to lose to deceive the enemy, but I won’t deliberately lose for the sake of friends. And this time, I want to see something clearly.”

Keter’s gaze stopped on Hisop.

“Is Sephira truly a place worth staying for me? As the rumors say, is Sephira all about me? It will all be revealed in this family war. And if that’s the case—”

*Slurp.*

Keter licked his lips and spread his arms.

“Wouldn’t it be fine if I became Sephira’s Lord?”

* * *

Normally, the next Lord is determined by primogeniture. No matter what abilities the Lord’s sons have, the eldest son becomes the Lord.

But exceptions can always happen. Even if it’s primogeniture, if the eldest son declares, “I yield to the second son,” then the second son becomes the Lord.

In other words, if the eldest son is incompetent and his younger brothers are outstanding, the Lord might not be the eldest son.

In the current Sephira family, is there anyone as active as Keter? No.

Of course, Hisop is also active—in politics and social affairs. But those things are neither noticeable nor recorded.

On the other hand, Keter’s achievements are etched in the memories of countless people and recorded in history.

But no one in Sephira wanted Keter to become the Lord. Because Keter is a madman. A lunatic.

No matter how great his achievements or how outstanding his skills, if he can’t be respected as a person, he can’t become the Lord.

Nevertheless, Keter’s declaration that he would become the Lord wasn’t taken as a mere joke.

‘If Keter seriously wants to become the Lord… I can’t even imagine what he might do.’

Sephira had already experienced internal division once, suffering greatly. The discord between Lord Basil and the elders was the cause.

Back then, there was at least room for misunderstanding, and they managed to resolve it. But Keter becoming the Lord isn’t a matter of misunderstanding. It’s more like a declaration of war.

“Keter. Do you really want to become the Lord?”

Elder Leganon asked seriously. Keter answered immediately.

“After spending half a year here, I’ve grown attached to the Sephira family. If someone incompetent becomes the Lord, I’ll suffer too. I don’t want that. If that’s the case, I’d rather shape Sephira my way.”

“You’re already having a positive impact on Sephira. Basil and Hisop are granting everything you wish for.”

“Did I ask for something impossible? I asked because it was possible, and they accepted. Someone might think Hisop gave in to everything.”

“Are you saying that if you become the Lord, there’s something else you want to do?”

“Yes. First, I’ll cut salaries in half. Then, I’ll switch to a performance-based system. Those who don’t work, don’t eat. I like that phrase. Oh, and even elders won’t be spared.”

“Ahem!”

“Wait, cutting salaries in half? That’s too much!”

Everyone coughed awkwardly at Keter’s outrageous declaration. No matter how frugal Sephira’s knights were, they weren’t pursuing an ascetic lifestyle.

“If you don’t like the church, the priest should leave. Right?”

If you don’t like it, get out! To Keter, mercy was a nonexistent word.

Hisop, though shocked, didn’t show it and said,

“Keter. To summarize, are you saying you’ll act independently in this family war?”

“Since we’re on the topic, I’d like to request independent operational authority.”

“What if I refuse?”

Hisop tried to stand firm, but Keter just shrugged.

“Then I’ll just do it on my own.”

Keter’s indifferent attitude. Hisop didn’t take it as an empty threat.

“I’ll grant you operational authority. But swear this one thing to me. You won’t treat the soldiers as expendable.”

“Whoever hears that might think I’m a scumbag who uses subordinates as bait. I’m not that kind of person.”

“Promise me. That you’ll cherish the soldiers like your own limbs.”

“Like limbs? Then I’d discard them easily.”

“…Swear that you’ll treat them as your own life.”

“That much is possible. I swear. I’ll cherish the soldiers like my own life.”

“Remember, this isn’t a request from a brother, but an order from the Lord. If you break it, you’ll be punished by military law.”

“Got it.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Though the discussion had reached a conclusion, Sephira’s vassals still felt uneasy.

They firmly believed that Keter would actively participate in the family war, but he had declared that he would compete with Sephira publicly.

Keter sat down in his seat. At the same time, Maknun stood up.

Sephira’s vassals had already heard so many shocking things from Keter that they thought nothing Daat said would surprise them.

Daat shattered their preconceptions with his first words.

“As Sephira’s strategist, I can say without exaggeration that in this family war, Sephira only needs to defend. Because just Keter alone can win.”

“…?!”

“What nonsense!”

Daat’s provocation made everyone jump up in excitement.

* * *

Though they jumped up in excitement, the vassals just exchanged glances without saying anything.

‘If it’s Keter, it might really be possible.’

‘In fact, that might be the better strategy.’

Daat changed seats. To the opposite side of Keter.

“But as Keter said, it’s Sephira that needs to win in the family war. It shouldn’t be Keter as an individual winning. To make that happen, I’ve devised a strategy not for Keter, but for Sephira.”

Daat’s words left the vassals puzzled. Everyone knew Daat was smart, but war was a different realm, wasn’t it?

Yet Daat spoke with such confidence, as if his strategy was the best, that it was hard to trust him.

Daat, accustomed to such skepticism, didn’t just talk—he showed them.

“First, the enemy will pour all their important forces into Keter. That means all Grandmasters will focus on Keter. For clarity, I’ll omit titles and just use names.”

“Wait a minute. No matter how strong Keter is, the Baydant family has two Grandmasters. Plus, since the Second Prince is supporting Baydant, at least two more Grandmasters will be added. Are you saying all four of them will focus on Keter? That doesn’t make sense.”

“Four Grandmasters? No. I’m seeing up to six.”

“That’s excessive. For both Baydant and Keter.”

“You’re thinking too rationally about war. All wars in history start with emotion and end with reason.”

“History is just the past. If you think that’s the truth—”

“I know. History is just a reference. But I have a basis for thinking this way.”

“A basis?”

Daat’s claim of having a basis made everyone curious. Daat clasped his hands and spoke seriously.

“The current head of Baydant, Jordic… is terrified of Keter.”

“…?!”

“Using this as a basis, Baydant will pour their top forces into Keter. I’m confident this will happen and have devised a strategy accordingly. Therefore, what Sephira needs to do is quickly crush Baydant’s main forces, ignoring Sephira’s own strength, and rescue Keter, who will be struggling against Baydant’s top forces. That’s the best scenario I’ve envisioned.”

Sephira’s forces rescuing Keter, who is struggling.

If everything goes as Daat said, there’s a clear chance for Sephira to publicly surpass Keter while also winning the family war.

But nothing is more dangerous in war than assuming your intended strategy will work. A single clash could cost you everything.

Daat found this aspect a bit annoying.

‘If this were Liquor, no one would have opposed my words. But here, everyone doubts and doesn’t believe me. Well, I guess that’s natural.’

If this were Liquor, Daat would have mercilessly discarded allies who didn’t believe in his strategy. But Sephira isn’t an ally he can discard.

‘Keter cares about these people, and I… don’t dislike them either.’

Daat had prepared a second strategy for Sephira.

“If things don’t go as I said, and Baydant instead focuses all their top forces on Sephira or distributes them evenly, I’ve also prepared a strategy for that scenario. That strategy is……”

Meanwhile, as Daat was busy briefing Sephira’s vassals on the strategy, a strategy meeting was also taking place in the Baydant family.

* * *

“My Lord. I report that Crown Prince Rukan has sent a squad of the Royal Guard to support us.”

The Royal Guard. A squad of seven, all Master-level powerhouses. Their leader is a Grandmaster.

But that wasn’t all.

“Additionally, Marquis Ruvan has sent Sir Tesla, commander of the Tempest Knight Order, and Marquis Garcia has sent Sir Rajis, the Sword Dragon, to join the battle.”

The renowned swordsmanship families of the south, Ruvan and Garcia, had also dispatched Grandmasters to support Baydant.

“Good. In this family war, all Grandmasters will focus on Keter, so keep them separate. And—”

As Daat had predicted for the worst-case scenario, Baydant was mobilizing a total of six Grandmasters, all to deal with Keter.

And that wasn’t the end.

Baydant’s Lord, Jordic, felt it wasn’t enough. Even with six Grandmasters, he couldn’t shake the feeling that they might not be enough to defeat Keter. Jordic feared Keter more than Daat had anticipated.

“Summon him.”

“My Lord? Surely you’re not talking about ‘him’? That’s absurd! We already have more than enough forces to deal with Sephira. You can only summon him when the Baydant family is on the brink of collapse!”

The butler, who was part of the strategy meeting, strongly dissuaded Jordic. The others were puzzled, not knowing the reason.

“Who exactly is this ‘him’ you’re talking about, my Lord? I’d like to know so I can be shocked too.”

The butler glanced at Jordic.

Jordic nodded. Since he had already mentioned it, there was no point in keeping it a secret.

“He is… known in the world as the Demon Face Killer.”

The vassals were shocked at the mention of the Demon Face Killer. That name was one that no one in the Lilian Kingdom could ignore.

“That guy is a mad killer who slaughtered thousands for no reason! As far as I know, he died fighting the Royal Dragon Knight Order… Even if he’s alive, why would you summon such a person?”

The butler sighed deeply. True to his fearsome nickname, the Demon Face Killer was not a respectable figure.

But Jordic’s resolve was firm. There was one reason.

“The Demon Face Killer is a mad killer, but… he’s also a 7-Star Prime. He’ll be useful in dealing with Keter.”

Jordic had decided that to deal with Keter, they needed not just 6-Star Grandmasters, but a 7-Star Prime.

Even if it meant staining Baydant’s name with an indelible mark.