Chapter 34

Episode 34. When You Talk About Goblins, They Appear (2)

An awkward atmosphere flowed through the hallway.

The soldiers watching found it amusing, but Luke and Jacques did not.

Luke was shocked that the man he thought was a thug was his partner—Jacques was equally stunned that Keter’s partner was his own son.

Especially Jacques, who, when he first heard that Keter had a partner, thought it was someone else’s business.

‘Whoever it is, I offer my condolences in advance.’

But why, of all the knights, did it have to be his son, Luke?

“Hey.”

“There must be some mistake.”

Luke and Jacques spoke to Keter at the same time, then flinched.

Both were trying to let the other speak first. As they awkwardly hesitated, Keter spoke.

“Old man Jacques, you go first.”

“Ah, yes. Let me introduce you. This is my son, Luke.”

“Your son? You don’t look alike at all. Did you kidnap him?”

“Haha, no. It’s hard to believe, but I found baby Luke drifting down the river. There was a note saying, ‘Please take care of this child,’ so I thought it was fate and raised him as my own.”

Luke remained calm even after hearing about his past. He had already heard it from Jacques long ago.

‘He doesn’t look like he’s from the Lilian Kingdom at all.’

People from the southern continent, where the Lilian Kingdom is located, are tall and have strong features.

But what about Luke? Even as an adult, he’s short and looks like a boy, with a round, cute face.

Most notably, the difference in skin tone was striking. Even though Luke was tanned, his skin was fair. It was hard to say which country’s traits he had, but he definitely wasn’t born in the Lilian Kingdom.

Keter realized anew just how little interest he had in family matters in his past life.

‘In my past life, he hid having a son until the end. The old man is really something.’

Anyway, for the old man’s son to be assigned as my partner—is this a coincidence?

‘Did he think I’d listen better because it’s the old man’s son? By the way, this guy’s a defective product.’

Just as an experienced fruit farmer can judge the quality of fruit by its appearance, Keter immediately recognized something about Luke.

Luke didn’t smell of blood.

Meaning, he had never killed anyone.

For a farmer, that might be fine, but for a knight, it’s like a fisherman who doesn’t know how to gut a fish.

‘He’s lived an impossible life.’

Luke was an interesting existence.

According to Keter’s long experience, someone like Luke couldn’t live quietly even if they tried.

They would inevitably get caught up in many incidents and accidents, and even cause some without realizing it.

Of course, such people aren’t entirely nonexistent. Frankly, Ruquer is full of them.

‘What’s interesting is that this kid has lived peacefully. In an environment where that shouldn’t be possible.’

A knight from a prestigious family with a delicate appearance. There’s only one way he could live so carefree with such options.

‘It must be the work of some transcendent power. High-level magic or equivalent sorcery. Or perhaps a special privilege tied to his bloodline.’

Should I call him father after all?

He’s thrown me a very interesting guy.

‘Family life might be more fun than I thought?’

Keter’s lips curled into a smile as he looked at Luke.

Seeing that smile, Luke’s vision darkened.

‘I messed up from the very first step. Ugh.’

Poke poke.

Noticing that Luke hadn’t introduced himself, his father poked his side, prompting him.

Luke swallowed a sigh, placed a fist over his chest, and greeted Keter.

“Luke Blendor, of the 1st Division of the Holy Knight Order of Sephira. Since partners are friends, I’ll skip the formalities and call you casually, Keter.”

Thanks to the guys who usually treat him like a kid, Luke’s aggressive tone had become a habit.

Worried that Keter might misunderstand, Jacques quickly added an explanation.

“Haha, young master. The partner system is an old tradition of Sephira. It’s a relationship where, without hierarchical constraints, we advise each other honestly, like friends. Even Lord Hisop, the eldest son, gets along freely with his knight partner.”

Keter, who didn’t care for formalities himself, found it all amusing. He was just enjoying the situation.

“Exactly. Let’s keep it casual. What are we, strangers?”

“…Forgive me for earlier. I came in a hurry today and didn’t even know what you looked like.”

“It’s fine. It’s fine. No problem.”

“Huh? Uh…”

Perhaps because the first impression was so bad, Keter’s easy acceptance of the apology made him seem likable.

Luke thought that rumors were just rumors after all.

‘Maybe he’s a good person?’

Thus began a grand misconception.

* * *

“I’ll bring some tea.”

Jacques, having seated Keter and Luke at the table, spoke like the perfect butler.

There was no reason to object, but the opponent was Keter.

“Tea? Bring wine instead.”

“Wait. Did I hear that right? Wine? The sun hasn’t even set yet, and you want to drink wine?”

Luke, sitting across from him, asked in surprise.

Meanwhile, Jacques looked like he had expected this.

“I’ll bring it.”

“Right. Father, wine is not… huh?”

Jacques, as if he had already prepared, brought a bottle of wine and glasses from the shelf and placed them on the table.

Keter frowned at the wine bottle.

“The alcohol content is too low. This is practically grape juice.”

“Young master. I won’t tell you not to drink. But please, don’t drink enough to get drunk.”

“Anyone listening would misunderstand. It’s the old man who’s drunk, not me. What’s this? Another drinking bet?”

“Even if you’re not drunk, the smell of alcohol will be on you. Then my head will roll. Is that what you want?”

Jacques was indeed a veteran butler. By bringing up his own life, he both requested and pleaded with Keter at the same time.

Even the mighty Keter couldn’t refuse this. He clicked his tongue and picked up the wine bottle.

“Anyway, old man, you’re practically a national hero from your past life.”

Glug glug glug.

Keter poured wine into the glasses.

Naturally, there were two glasses.

One for Keter, one for Luke.

Luke muttered as he watched his glass being filled.

“Do I have to drink too?”

Even for a noble family’s lineage, drinking wine in broad daylight would be a disgrace, yet here he was, being offered wine as a knight. What kind of mess is this?

Keter raised his glass first and said.

“Cheers. Let’s bless our meeting.”

“…I’m a knight. I won’t drink.”

Partners aren’t in a hierarchical relationship. To make that clear, Luke firmly refused.

Watching this, Jacques was anxious. Knowing Keter’s personality, he would surely force Luke to drink.

But what’s this? Keter emptied his own glass, then drank Luke’s too?

“Then I’ll drink for you. Nice to meet you, Luke.”

“Phew.”

As Jacques sighed in relief, Luke gave him a strange look.

“Ahem, Keter. I heard from the Lord. You’ve been given a mission. I only heard about it, not the details. Can you show me the mission board?”

“Ah, that. Old man, bring it.”

“Yes.”

Luke wasn’t too pleased to see his father being treated like a servant.

But he quickly composed himself.

A butler following his master’s orders is natural. His father was doing his duty, and Keter was merely exercising his rights.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

Luke glanced at Keter, who was drinking alone, and checked the mission board.

-[Search for Missing Vacationer]

Assigned Knight: Catherine Luke Blendor

Mission Difficulty: F

Contact with Reynald of the 2nd Division of the Holy Knight Order, who was on vacation, has been lost. The last confirmed location was the border village ‘Hakoz.’ Investigate his whereabouts there and ensure his swift return.

Luke’s tension eased as he read the mission.

‘Just three days ago… I thought going on a mission with Keter, who lived in the Lawless City, would be really tough. But it’s an easy F-rank mission, so I’m really lucky.’

Practically, this mission was like a break. Relaxed, Luke spoke with a more comfortable expression.

“An easy mission. It seems the Lord arranged it as my first mission. Or maybe it’s a hint to get some fresh air.”

Luke put down the mission board and shared his thoughts. Since everything was new and unfamiliar to Keter, Luke, as the senior, would guide him step by step.

Crunch.

Keter cracked a peanut and said.

“Someone’s missing. Why is it an easy mission?”

“You’re an outsider, so you wouldn’t know, but it’s actually common. It’s called missing, but they’re probably just delayed helping villagers.”

“Helping villagers? Why? Knights aren’t laborers.”

“Because we’re knights of Sephira. You don’t know Sephira’s history, do you? Sephira’s founder was a commoner hunter. With the ambition to end a long war through archery, he gathered hunters to join him. Thousands of commoner hunters gathered from across the nation, and our ancestor, having achieved great merit in the war, was recognized by the Queen and became a noble. At that time, our ancestor swore an oath. That he could become a noble thanks to the help of commoners, so even as a noble, he would never look down on or ignore commoners, and would always help when asked. That’s what’s been passed down to this day.”

Even as he spoke, Luke’s chest swelled with pride.

What a magnificent history.

Other noble families decorate their pasts with mythical tales of slaying flying monsters or pulling swords from stones.

But Sephira is different. A vivid history, extremely realistic and un-noble-like. A past filled with the meaning of cherishing and loving the people.

Crunch.

Then, from somewhere, a sound cooled Luke’s heated heart.

Keter, still cracking peanuts, said.

“Do you get paid?”

“Knights shouldn’t seek money while doing good deeds.”

“Unpaid service is something to be proud of.”

“…That’s the way of the knight. And it’s because of the commoners that nobles and knights exist.”

“Commoners won’t think that way. They’ll see you as foolish nobles and take advantage.”

“What do you know to say such nonsense?”

As Luke flared up, Jacques placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

“You seem easily excited today.”

Luke realized his mistake. Talking with Keter, he found it strangely hard to control his emotions.

“…Sorry, Keter. I guess I got excited because it’s my first time having this kind of conversation.”

“Is that so.”

To Keter, it was truly trivial, so he responded indifferently. Keter’s interest had already shifted from Luke’s identity to the mission’s details.

‘He said it’s not a big deal.’

It’s probably not a lie. It’s just an easy mission to go to the village, find someone, and bring them back.

‘The attackers were aiming for that.’

Meaning it’s no coincidence. Absolutely not.

Someone set a trap, and the Sephira family fell right into it. That much is clear.

The question here is whether there’s an accomplice inside or not.

The victim being Catherine.

Is that a coincidence too?

“Why did Catherine take on this F-rank mission?”

Catherine is not only a 2-star knight but also a member of the Constellation Knight Order, leading skilled archers. There’s no reason for her to take on such an F-rank mission.

Luke knew the answer to that question.

“Because Catherine is from that village. It was a consideration. Elder Leganon said so.”

When Leganon’s name came up, Keter knew it.

“Isn’t Elder Leganon in seclusion? Was he assigning family missions?”

“Elder Leganon, Keter. There are ears listening. Sigh. Anyway. Elder Leganon wasn’t just sitting idle. See where it says ‘Mission Difficulty’ on the mission board? Elder Leganon measures that. And he personally assigns the right personnel for the missions.”

“So, the family’s missions are all handled by Leganon.”

“The final approval is from the Lord, of course. But it’s probably just a formality. Elder Leganon is flawless in this field. He used to manage the royal family’s library, so it’s only natural he has an excellent eye.”

“Hoho, hohoho.”

As Keter started laughing, Luke and Jacques exchanged puzzled looks.

Keter was genuinely pleased.

The elder, Leganon, whom he had found suspicious from the very first meeting.

‘Look at this. Even if I do nothing, things get tangled on their own.’

Catherine’s death wasn’t a coincidence but intentional.

Exactly…

Knock knock.

At the crucial moment, who’s there?

Old man Jacques slightly opened the door to check the uninvited guest. After exchanging a few words, the door opened.

Clank.

In came an armed knight.

The knight, clad in silver armor and wearing a helmet, approached me directly.

Luke stood up and greeted the knight politely.

“Holy Knight Luke. It’s been a while, Sir Gant.”

Gant, the knight, glanced at Luke and said.

“So you’ve become Young Master Keter’s partner. Tough luck.”

“Not at all. I’ll do my best.”

As Luke quickly stepped aside, Gant took a step closer to me. Then, without any gesture, he introduced himself.

“Gant of the Lunar Knight Order.”

“Short on words, aren’t you?”

“There’s a place you need to come with me to now.”

“Now you’re ignoring me too.”

I stood up and stared directly at Gant’s half-hidden face under the helmet.

The Lunar Knight Order. Sephira’s strongest military force. Made up of knights with at least 3 stars, only those with diverse combat experience and achievements can join.

Gant, as if expecting my reaction, gestured as if to say, ‘How about this?’

“Elder Leganon has summoned you.”

The kid just said what I was about to say.

The mastermind who set the trap to kill Catherine, Leganon, is calling for me.

“You should’ve said that earlier. Let’s go.”

They say when you talk about goblins, they appear. How true.