Chapter 270

Chapter 271. Victory is Just a Side Dish (8)

In the territory of the Baydant family, there is a strange village. A small village of about a hundred households, built modestly on a mountain ridge deep in the mountains.

Arbold, the former vice-captain of the Silver Leopard Knight Order and now the aide of the current family head Jordic, surveyed the village.

The low walls were merely a means to mark the village’s boundaries, and the absence of any watchtowers seemed to indicate just how safe this mountain was.

“Does the Demon Face Killer really live in a place like this…?”

Kreight, the Demon Face Killer, a title given to him because all who saw his face died. Arbold licked his dry lips, tense, and entered the village.

“Excuse me. Is Kreight here in this village?”

People living in remote areas are usually not friendly to outsiders. However, the middle-aged man Arbold questioned answered readily.

“Of course! Kreight is our village chief, doctor, and teacher—a truly great man! But you don’t seem lost. What brings you here?”

“The family head of Baydant is looking for Kreight.”

“The family head is looking for our village chief? It seems even the family head has recognized Kreight’s talents. Follow me. The chief is currently teaching the children.”

The unnamed middle-aged man was kind. Like a rabbit living on an island without predators.

The others were the same.

‘Not only are there no walls, but every house has its doors wide open. And there’s no market.’

They didn’t worry about thieves; they didn’t even have the concept of buying and selling. They simply shared what they needed with each other.

Then, a young girl approached and asked innocently, “Hello, Uncle Jim! Who is this?”

“Matilda! This isn’t an uncle. He’s a knight sent by the lord!”

The family head of Baydant is not a lord. But Arbold didn’t bother to correct him. Commoners often confused family heads with lords.

“A knight?!”

At the word “knight,” the girl’s eyes sparkled.

“Wait a moment, Sir Knight!”

“Matilda. If you have something to do, come to the school! We’re on our way to see the chief.”

“Yes!”

“Hahaha, isn’t she adorable? Do you have any children, Sir Knight?”

“I’m unmarried.”

“What? But you’re so handsome! Why don’t you have a partner? Would you like to meet my daughter? She’s the most beautiful girl in the village.”

Jim, the middle-aged man, was a chatterbox.

Arbold, not wanting to engage in conversation, remained silent, but Jim kept talking nonstop about how wonderful, safe, and pleasant the village was.

When they arrived at what seemed to be the school, Arbold took out an eyepatch and said, “I’ll be wearing this. Don’t mind it.”

“Is that the fashion in the city? How interesting.”

“Please guide me to Kreight.”

“Alright. Follow me closely. I’ll let you know when we reach the steps.”

Jim worried that Arbold might trip with the eyepatch on, but such concern was unnecessary for a 4-Star Knight like Arbold.

“Alright, kids. If you eat 7 out of 10 apples, how many are left?”

“Three!”

“But if I bring 5 more apples, how many apples are there in total?”

“Umm…”

The children counted on their fingers or closed their eyes to think.

The voice of a man teaching no more than six children clearly reached Arbold’s ears.

With the eyepatch on, Arbold couldn’t see what the man looked like, so he imagined Kreight’s appearance based on his voice and mannerisms.

A middle-aged man over 40, but with well-maintained skin without a single wrinkle. Thick eyebrows, a face that would laugh at silly jokes—it was the image that came to mind.

‘This man is the Demon Face Killer Kreight…’

A murderer who killed thousands just for seeing his face, a 7-Star Prime who survived battles against the royal Dragon Knight Order.

The image was completely different from what Arbold had imagined, making him wonder if he had come to the wrong place.

“Ahem, Chief! We have a guest. Could you spare a moment?”

At Jim’s words, Kreight put a finger to his lips and looked at the children.

“What should we do when a guest arrives?”

“Be quiet!”

“That’s how you become a good child who gets praised.”

The children tightly closed their mouths. Kreight smiled at Arbold behind Jim.

“Guest from afar. You don’t seem to have trouble with your eyes since you don’t have a cane. Why are you wearing an eyepatch?”

Arbold, not wanting to waste time with Kreight’s probing, got straight to the point.

“Juan Cerno de Kreight. I’ve come to release you from your chains. Fulfill your oath and keep your promise to the Baydant family.”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing this, Kreight staggered, clutching his forehead. Jim quickly supported him.

“Are you alright? What promise did you make with the Baydant family to be so shocked…?”

“What do you, a mere servant, know about it?”

“Huh? But I’m the village chief’s aide.”

Jim couldn’t finish his sentence. His head rolled on the ground.

“Ah, I was just getting used to life here… Now I have to say goodbye again.”

Kreight sniffled.

Arbold froze. It wasn’t because Jim had been killed.

‘Th-this is impossible. When did he strike? I didn’t even feel the movement, let alone the finishing move!’

Arbold had doubted Kreight because he felt no aura from him. And that hadn’t changed.

Kreight seemed like an ordinary person. That’s not too hard. Masters skilled in hiding their presence can act like ordinary people.

But when they exert their power, their presence should be revealed. Yet Kreight showed no presence even when he killed Jim in the blink of an eye.

“Ah, ahhh…?”

“U-Uncle Jim?!”

“Waaaaah!”

The children in the classroom broke their silence and began to cry. Arbold inwardly shouted without realizing it.

‘Don’t cry, you fools!’

Arbold was already wearing an eyepatch, but he instinctively closed his eyes tighter.

Thud!

Rumble.

Even without seeing, Arbold could imagine what had happened. His body trembled.

‘Madman! Even the children… the very children he taught!’

Tap.

Startled!

Arbold was shocked by the touch on his shoulder. Kreight, who had been ten steps away, was now behind him.

Kreight fiddled with Arbold’s eyepatch with his fingers and said, “Honestly, I didn’t think you’d call for me. Patra, that guy seemed like he’d rather let the Baydant family fall than risk his own life. But since you called for me, I guess he’s dead, huh?”

Arbold felt chills. Not because he inferred the Baydant family’s situation, but because Kreight’s tone hadn’t changed at all.

It was the same gentle voice and mannerisms of the teacher who had been teaching the children. It seemed like he would take care of the children at any moment.

Arbold took a deep breath. His stomach churned from the cognitive dissonance, but he had to fulfill his mission.

“The current family head of Baydant is Jordic.”

“Huh? Jordic? Not Volos? The eldest son of Baydant is Volos. Don’t try to fool me.”

“Volos… was killed.”

“Interesting. Patra was killed, and then Volos, who was next in line, was also killed? And now Jordic, who became the family head, is still alive. Did he kill them?”

“No! Jordic would never commit such a heinous act. Family Head Patra passed away from old age, and Volos was killed by someone named Keter.”

“Keter? I don’t know who that is. What does he do?”

“…He’s a bastard from the Sephira family, a renowned archery house. He recently started making a name for himself. He won the Southern Sword Tournament and became the Southern Palace. His archery… it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

“So you came to ask me to kill him. Indeed, I made a promise to Patra. To kill anyone the Baydant family designates. That’s why I’ve lived here for decades.”

Arbold, unaware of this backstory, swallowed hard. He had tied the eyepatch tightly, but it felt like it would come loose with the slightest movement.

“I kill anyone who sees my face. No exceptions. That’s why you’re wearing an eyepatch. Patra gave good advice. I can’t kill someone who hasn’t seen my face. But you know what?”

Creak, creak.

The sound of metal plates grinding together. Arbold didn’t want to know what Kreight was doing to make that sound.

“I’ve seen that Jordic. He’s seen me too. You probably don’t remember. You were just a baby who couldn’t even walk. But it doesn’t matter. The world remembers. The meeting between me and Jordic. Hehehe.”

“…Are you done?”

“Huh?”

Surprised that Arbold wasn’t afraid, Kreight’s brow furrowed as he chuckled.

“Such a contract has nothing to do with me. Here’s the map and Keter’s sketch. Kill him.”

“…Coming to find me knowing that means you’re confident you can handle it, huh? Hehehe. It was worth waiting decades.”

Thud!

Kreight took the map and Keter’s sketch from Arbold and turned his back.

“I’ll start the job tomorrow. I have a prior engagement today. Or do you want to watch?”

“I’ll leave.”

“Tell Jordic. I’ll bring Keter’s head soon, and then I’ll come for yours.”

Arbold left the village without a word. This innocent village would soon become a living hell.

With no power or obligation to stop it, Arbold muttered like a madman as he ran.

“This has nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me…”

* * *

Three days before the outbreak of the family war between Baydant and Sephira. The family heads of both sides met to set the rules.

The location was the ‘Tuka Plains’ between the two families. Unlike Jordic, known as the Spear Dragon, Hisop had no special titles or exceptional archery skills, so he brought a single guard for safety.

And that guard was, of course—

“Keter…”

Jordic quietly glared at Keter standing beside Hisop.

Huff, huff.

Winter had fully arrived. Their breaths formed clouds of steam with each exhale. Knights who had mastered Aura usually didn’t feel heat or cold much, but Jordic and Hisop’s ears were bright red.

Meanwhile, Keter was sticking his tongue out at the sky, eating the falling snow. He was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.

Even though Transcendent Beings have better adaptability than others, they’re not completely unaffected. Like everyone else, they take off clothes when it’s hot and bundle up when it’s cold.

Jordic, annoyed by Keter’s insane behavior, took a deep breath.

This was an important meeting to set the rules for the family war. The rules could favor or disadvantage either family.

Jordic had thought of additional rules after countless meetings with his advisors. Rules to restrict and weaken Keter, Sephira’s strongest asset.

Of course, this was only possible if Hisop agreed, but Jordic had prepared thoroughly to make it seem acceptable even to Hisop.

Swish.

The two men, standing ten meters apart, faced each other. Jordic stepped forward first, and Hisop followed a step later.

Finally, they met in the middle.

Jordic extended his hand and said, “Branch House Lord Hisop, it’s unfortunate to meet like this.”

“Family Head Jordic. Likewise.”

Hisop didn’t shake hands. Jordic casually withdrew his right hand and presented a parchment with his left.

“These are the rules I propose for this family war. If you have any questions or agree with any part, let me know.”

“I’ll take a look.”

Hisop unfolded the parchment. There were over thirty finely written rules. But Hisop didn’t frown once and began reading carefully.

Meanwhile, Jordic took a step back. He glanced sideways.

Nether had wanted to meet Keter in person, and now, at this moment, the two faced each other.

“Nice to meet you, Prince Keter. I am Nether, the Grand Master of the Tiger Guard.”

Nether approached Keter with a friendly smile and greeted him.

“That face… it’s familiar.”

Keter stopped eating snow and openly glared at Nether. Nether chuckled.

‘How clumsy. I’ve never directly surveilled you. I’ve only watched you through my subordinates. It’s impossible for you to know my face.’

Nether hadn’t revealed himself to Keter before because he wasn’t ready. But now, Nether was fully prepared.

‘Keter. I’ve prepared for everything you might say. Even you pretending to know me.’

That was the Solver’s way.

To solve a problem, you must see it. Understand it. Nether intended to approach Keter in his own way.

“Ah! I remember now!”

“Haha, you must be confusing me with someone else. I’ve never met Prince Keter before.”

“Right. You’ve never seen me. But I’ve seen you. A long time ago.”

“…?”

Nether knew Keter was crazy, but hearing that he had seen him a long time ago was absurd.

‘No matter how many years “a long time ago” is, I was born in the Empire, you fool. I’ve only been in the Lilian Kingdom for a little over a year. Trying to test me by pretending to know me? How shameless.’

Just as Nether thought Keter was just spouting nonsense, Keter’s next words made his heart drop.

“You’re Nether, the Solver from the Empire.”

“…”

This was an unexpected scenario. Nether couldn’t believe it.

‘I’ve never exposed my existence to Sephira. Even if I hadn’t used a pseudonym, only high-ranking officials in the Empire know I’m a Solver. How does Keter know this? This is impossible.’

Nether’s mouth went dry from the completely unforeseen situation, but he remained calm.

“How did you know that?”

“How could I not? Because—”

Keter reached into his pocket.

Nether’s tension peaked. He couldn’t imagine what would come out of that pocket.

Swish.

From the pocket came a thick book of an inexplicable size.

Nether’s mind raced.

‘What is this? A directory? A wanted poster? It’s too worn for that. Wait. The cover looks familiar…’

The mysterious book Keter pulled from his pocket.

Amazingly, it was a book Nether knew.

-<Everything About Solvers>

-Author: Nether

“You see, I became a Solver after reading your book. Since we’ve met like this, how about an autograph?”