Chapter 35

Episode 35. For Sephira (1)

Gant, who had come as Leganon’s proxy, led Keter through a lush garden.

Seeing no visible destination, Keter muttered.

“At this rate, we might end up going all the way to the Empire.”

“If you wish to live as a noble of a prestigious family, you must cultivate patience.”

The place where Gant stopped was a pond. More precisely, it was behind a large stone statue built beside it.

“You’re not planning to give me some cliché lecture here, are you?”

“I wouldn’t mind doing so.”

Gant, who had removed his helmet, pressed the heel of the statue.

Then, a hidden secret door quietly revealed itself from the ground.

“Are you some kind of evil organization? Do you live underground?”

“This is the archive where all of Sephira’s history is recorded. Please show some respect.”

“To history? Or to the elder?”

“To both.”

“Must be tough lacking empathy.”

Gant frowned but didn’t stop walking.

The archive they arrived at was incredibly spacious compared to the width of the stairs they descended.

Moreover, despite being underground, it was as bright as midday. They weren’t using candles or torches. The ceiling was embedded with ‘stones that emit their own light.’

“Wow, those are Sunstones, aren’t they?”

Different from ‘Light Stones’ that shine with magical power.

Sunstones literally emit light akin to the sun, and according to some research, they can shine continuously for up to 500 years.

Even a Sunstone the size of a fist is worth thousands of gold, and there were dozens of Sunstones the size of a person’s head embedded in this underground space.

“Impressive.”

As Keter licked his lips while looking at the ceiling, Gant warned him.

“If you’re thinking of stealing the Sunstones, drop the idea now. As you can see, this place is guarded by the Lunar Knight Order.”

As Gant said, knights were stationed everywhere. They were members of the Lunar Knight Order, Sephira’s strongest force.

Keter clicked his tongue.

“What’s the point of being the family’s strongest force if they’re just standing around here? They weren’t raised to just stand around like that.”

“The archive holds the entire history of the family. Each bookshelf is a part of that history. Don’t you know that a family that loses its history is no different from a band of thieves?”

“If it’s that important, why not make copies and store them in multiple places? As it is now, if an intruder sets a fire, everything will burn to the ground. Right?”

Another reason for their downfall.

They have no manpower to spare, yet they’ve buried the family’s strongest knights here. It’s incomprehensible, but even if you understand, it’s a serious waste.

Do they not realize the family’s crisis? Or do they intend to protect this place to preserve Sephira’s legacy even if a crisis strikes?

Whoever ordered this is definitely under a grand delusion.

If I ever gain any authority, I’ll make sure those wasting their time here work tirelessly every single day.

“…Let’s hurry.”

Unable to refute Keter’s words, Gant quickened his pace instead of replying.

The place they arrived at was a door labeled ‘Office.’ Gant spoke to the knights guarding the door.

“This is Young Master Keter. We’re entering.”

Nod.

The knights guarding the door pulled the handle and opened it.

Just as Keter was about to enter, Gant whispered in his ear.

“Do not be disrespectful in front of Elder Leganon. I can tolerate you insulting me, but I cannot tolerate you insulting him.”

Thud!

Keter hit Gant’s forehead with the back of his head. Gant, holding his nose, stepped back.

“G-Gant, you…….”

The knight guarding the door pointed at Gant’s nose.

Soon, Gant felt something wet on his fingers.

“Blood…!”

Gant’s nose started bleeding from Keter’s headbutt. Keter turned around and said to him.

“I thought it was a bug tickling my ear. It was you, old man? Seriously, why are you blowing in people’s ears? You’re not some pervert.”

“You… brat!”

“Elder Leganon is waiting, so I’ll go in first. Stop the bleeding before you come in.”

Keter slipped into the office.

The knights guarding the door closed the office door and said to Gant.

“Do as he said and stop the bleeding before entering. You can’t show such a disgraceful appearance to the elder.”

“Tch…!”

While Gant went to stop the bleeding.

Keter finally met the elder he had been waiting for, Leganon.

* * *

“The flowers bloom, so spring must be coming.”

Leganon, sitting in a chair reading a book, recited a verse as if chanting.

Keter ignored his words and looked around.

The space was more like a study than an office. It had a three-story structure, and the shadows beyond the bookshelves were deep, indicating there was more space behind.

‘They’ve even cleaned the dirt floor. That’s proof they’ve gone mad.’

As Keter continued to look around, Leganon spoke again.

“Even if snow doesn’t fall, I feel winter has come when I blow my breath.”

“Have you gone senile?”

Keter, having finished his observation, stood in front of Leganon and spoke.

Leganon put down the book he was holding. His emaciated figure looked more like a detached monk than pitiful.

“Don’t you understand what I’m trying to say, Keter?”

“Beating around the bush isn’t my style.”

“You are like the scorching summer sun and the cold winter wind to the Sephira family.”

“You don’t even offer a guest a cup of tea. How stingy.”

Ignoring the nonsense, Keter’s words made Leganon rise from his seat.

“I don’t drink tea. In the end, tea is just pure water with impurities. Just like you.”

“Now you’re speaking in a way I can understand. Did you call me here to threaten me? ‘If you don’t leave, I’ll kill you!’?”

“It’s not a threat, but a notice.”

Leganon slowly walked towards the office desk. His pace was so slow that Keter, tired of waiting, sat down in a chair first.

As Keter sat down, Leganon spoke without turning around.

“You’ve received a mission from the family head.”

“I heard you’re taking full responsibility for that mission. Impressive.”

“Given Basil’s personality, he probably didn’t tell you. I’ll say it instead. Our Sephira family is in crisis.”

“Interesting. The prestigious Sephira family in crisis? Is someone threatening us with a sword?”

“I know your thoughts well. You thought clinging to our family would let you live a luxurious life. But the opposite is true. The deeper your ties with our family, the more likely you are to die.”

“You said it’s not a threat? Now you’re predicting my murder.”

Leganon delayed his answer. He finally reached the desk.

Picking up an envelope on the desk, Leganon faced Keter and spoke again.

“It’s not me who will kill you. The world will kill you.”

A strange light appeared in Keter’s eyes.

‘This guy. Even though he’s being vague, he’s telling me about the Sephira family’s current situation and future.’

His intention for calling me here is obvious, but his words aren’t, so it’s intriguing.

Sigh.

Pretending to ponder, Keter took a deep breath.

‘The orange scent from before… it’s gone.’

When they met in the reception room, Leganon’s body had a lingering orange scent.

But now, Leganon only smelled of musty books. The touch was damp and gave the feeling of a damp basement.

‘There’s no visible evidence, but it’s clear he’s dug a backdoor.’

The Lunar Knight Order I saw on the way here.

They guard this place 24/7. Meaning, if Leganon does anything suspicious, the knights would know. But their silence means one of two things.

Either they’ve betrayed Sephira with Leganon.

Or Leganon is contacting outsiders without the knights’ knowledge.

‘Both are possible.’

With a leisurely, almost sluggish movement, Leganon approached Keter and handed him the documents.

“I’d be grateful if it were pocket money.”

Thud!

Keter opened the mouth of the document and shook it onto his palm. A 1,000-gold note fell out.

‘Oh! I almost thought he was really giving me pocket money.’

A national ID card fell out along with the note.

“An Empire ID? You’ve got something precious.”

An Empire ID proving citizenship in the Sammael Empire. A very sophisticated forgery.

Leganon sat not across from Keter, but in a distant chair, and spoke.

“When you arrive at Hakoz Village, go to the Pumpkin Leaf Inn. My subordinate will be waiting there with a carriage. You’ll quietly disappear in that carriage.”

Keter put the 1,000 gold and the ID card into his pocket. Seeing this, Leganon smiled faintly.

“A wise choice. You’ll surely thank me later. But remember. Even in the Sammael Empire, don’t reveal your true identity. Don’t come back either.”

“Sigh… Since I’m leaving, just tell me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Who are you colluding with?”

“……”

Life returned to Leganon’s dead eyes. He glared at Keter, who responded with a sly smile.

“I heard my father made a mistake. Is this revenge for that?”

Basil killed Olive.

And Leganon is Olive’s father.

Meaning, to Leganon, Basil is the enemy who killed his daughter. He had more than enough reason to betray the family.

“…Revenge won’t bring my daughter back.”

“But it’ll make you feel better, right?”

“Only for a moment. The rest of my life will be filled with regret.”

“People do things they know they shouldn’t. Do you think you’re any different, Elder?”

“Not all people are the same.”

“Not entirely different, though.”

“You’ve answered a lot for one question. It seems you’ll take the money but not my offer.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Ah. I don’t know why you asked me that question. But one thing is certain. You’re deeply mistaken. About Sephira. About me. Unfortunately, you don’t realize it yourself.”

Ding.

Leganon rang the bell on his chair.

Immediately, the door opened, and Gant, who had stopped his nosebleed, entered and grabbed Keter’s shoulder.

“Get up, Keter.”

“Short on words, Gant.”

“Don’t get it wrong. You’re not a noble yet.”

“That’s why I need to be careful. This time, it won’t end with just a nosebleed.”

“What?”

Gant’s voice rose involuntarily after being hit.

Then, Leganon spoke quietly.

“Keter. I tolerated your arrogance because you are Basil’s flesh and blood. But that mercy has just ended.”

“That’s a long way to say ‘get lost.'”

Keter, standing up, shook off Gant’s hand still on his shoulder.

Gant frowned, but since they were in front of Leganon, he only glared.

Before leaving, Keter said to Leganon.

“Has there ever been an elder who betrayed the Sephira family in its history?”

“…No.”

“There will be soon.”

“……”

Leganon responded to Keter’s words with silence.

Keter didn’t seem to expect an answer and left the office.

Gant wasn’t one to let that slide. He approached Leganon and whispered.

“Just give the order. Even if I’m expelled, I swear I’ll… Keter…”

“Sir Gant. If you truly care for me, shouldn’t you act without orders?”

“…Understood.”

“Stop. That’s just a figure of speech. I didn’t mean for you to actually do it.”

Leganon spoke as if admonishing Gant.

“You are a knight. A proud one of Sephira. Don’t lose your composure over a mere ignorant child.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Send that child back safely.”

“Understood.”

Gant saluted briefly and left the office.

A short while later, Gant returned and reported.

“I’ve sent him back.”

“Any trouble?”

“No. I didn’t even want to talk to him, so I didn’t open my mouth. He didn’t speak either.”

“Wait a moment. This is the last page.”

Leganon savored the last page of the poetry book he was reading. The book was worn, with smudges and frayed edges.

It wasn’t just once or twice; he must have read it hundreds of times.

“Growth accompanies pain. If you’re in pain now, it’s proof you’re growing. A good verse, don’t you think?”

“Yes. Truly wise words.”

“Gant. I’m in great pain now.”

The book closed, revealing Leganon’s face.

Eyes filled with dark determination.

They weren’t the eyes of someone bored with life or mourning his daughter’s death.

They were the eyes of someone who had abandoned his life and humanity for a single purpose.

Gant, a seasoned veteran knight, swallowed hard without realizing.

Leganon is an ordinary, no, a weak old man. Yet, the eerie aura emanating from him sent chills down Gant’s spine, who had faced death countless times.

Leganon, having put down the book, spoke to Gant in a clear voice.

“There will be no changes to the plan.”

“Meaning…”

“Instead of Catherine, we’ll send Keter first.”