Chapter 38

Episode 38. The Solver of Sephira (2)

“Lord. Knight Luke and Young Master Keter have left.”

At the report of the white-haired old man with glasses, Basil, who was processing a mountain of paperwork, only opened his mouth.

“Did they leave quietly?”

“Yes. Ah…”

The head butler, Subid, hesitated.

“It’s fine. Speak.”

“Young Master Anis requested a match with Young Master Keter, but was ignored.”

“Hoho. Anis is quite competitive, so it’s understandable. But being ignored means Keter refused the match, right?”

“According to the soldiers…”

The head butler explained that Keter had thrown two arrows with the strength of his arm, and while Anis caught one, the other arrow hit a stone and knocked him down.

Thud.

Basil, who had been busily processing documents, stopped and looked up at the head butler.

“Any injuries?”

“He used Aura to protect his body, so there are no injuries.”

“He must have used Over Shield. He should be exhausted and collapsed by now.”

“No. Young Master Anis went back to the underground training room. I checked, and he seemed even more energetic.”

“To defend against an unexpected attack, Over Shield would be the only option… Are you sure you saw correctly?”

“How could I lie to you, Lord?”

Over Shield is the last resort for Aura users.

A technique used when it seems impossible to block an opponent’s attack, or in a life-or-death situation. It releases all the Aura in the body in an explosion, blocking all attacks from all directions.

It’s the most reliable defense, but the aftermath is severe.

The destructive power of Aura exploding inside the body means the body can’t remain unharmed. It takes at least a day to recover, with both stamina and energy drained.

But Anis is said to be fine.

For that to be possible, there’s only one explanation.

“He must have used Aura Skin.”

Aura techniques are broadly divided into three levels.

Those who can only handle Aura in chunks are ‘Bruisers’-

Those who can shape it are ‘Bladers’-

Those who can control it to an extremely precise level are called ‘Shifters.’

The criteria for distinguishing them are simple.

The overall level of the Aura user. And more importantly, ‘whether they can use a specific technique or not.’

‘Aura Blade.’

This is the symbol of a ‘Blader.’ To become a Blader, one must be able to use this technique.

However, in the Sephira family, which specializes in archery, they don’t use Aura Bladers, so they distinguish Bladers by other techniques.

‘Aura Skin. And Aura Arrow.’

Aura Skin, which surrounds the skin with a thin layer of Aura, doesn’t block significant damage. It only blocks punches or slashes from common thugs.

However, it doesn’t put much strain on the body. It offsets damage below a certain level without risk.

“Anis has finally reached the level of a Blader.”

There was no need to go and ask directly.

Anis has broken through his limits. He has overcome his own barriers.

Coincidentally, it was after coming into contact with Keter.

“Was Keter the catalyst…?”

Of course, Basil, as a father and as the head of an archery family, had given much advice and guidance to his children.

But no matter how excellent the teacher, if the disciple doesn’t accept it, it’s meaningless. Anis easily reached the level of a Bruiser but had been stuck at the wall of becoming a Blader for three years.

Now that the impenetrable wall has finally been broken, Basil couldn’t help but smile. His son’s growth was his happiness as a father.

Basil, who had been focused on the documents, stood up as the flow was interrupted.

“I’ll prepare some coffee.”

The head butler was about to prepare coffee as usual, but Basil raised his hand to stop him.

“I haven’t been sleeping well at night. My body feels stiff. More importantly, has there been a response from the Ultima Merchant?”

“I’ll check the messenger birds and be right back.”

The fastest means of communication between both parties is undoubtedly magic, but communication magic is the exclusive domain of a very few nobles or royals, so most use land routes or messenger birds.

Since the room with the messenger birds was just above the office, the head butler returned quickly. He handed a small scroll to the lord.

“It’s a document from the Ultima Merchant. It seems they replied immediately.”

“Hmm.”

Basil had written to Ultima, apologizing on behalf of Keter’s actions.

What kind of response did Ultima send?

Basil broke the wax seal and checked.

-“Greetings to Lord Basil El Sephira. It’s truly regrettable that we have to converse in this manner, but I also regret the friction with Young Master Keter.

However, how could I hold you responsible? Rather, I wish to apologize to you. Please do not worry, Lord.

However, I have one request.”

As Basil was about to read further with interest, the head butler spoke.

“You look serious, Lord. May I ask what the letter says?”

“……”

After glancing at the last part of the letter, Basil approached the fireplace.

Whoosh!

The letter thrown into the fireplace instantly burst into flames.

“Lord. Why did you burn the letter…?”

The scrolls used for messenger birds are not ordinary scrolls. They use durable sheepskin that doesn’t get wet even in the rain.

This sheepskin is very expensive. So, it’s common to keep it for record-keeping or erase the content and reuse it. Of course, the content is handled by blind people to ensure others don’t know.

But Basil burned it completely, which is not common. It’s no wonder the head butler was flustered.

Basil shook his head and said.

“The Ultima Merchant was very angry. There was something I couldn’t bear to see, so I couldn’t keep it.”

“Is that so… Did the Ultima Merchant say they would cut off trade? If so, we should consider finding another merchant or setting up our own.”

“Fortunately, they didn’t say they would cut off trade. But they said they wouldn’t tolerate such incidents in the future.”

“The Ultima Merchant is quite arrogant. Even though they are the only merchant trading with us, their attitude towards you, Lord, seems highly disrespectful.”

“What can I do? It’s all my fault. Please bear with it. As we always have.”

Crackle crackle.

The letter completely burned away.

“Thinking about it, Keter’s actions might have actually helped.”

“……”

“Taragon wandered for a long time, unable to find his path. But after consistently running on the field, he finally seems interested in security duties.”

“But wasn’t the Demon Bow Amaranth brought out into the world by Young Master Keter?”

“It’s fine. Amaranth and Keter are not in a trade relationship. It seems more like a master-servant relationship. So, I judged it safe to trust and leave it to them. Is that all? There’s also a new wind blowing in the blacksmith.”

“What kind of wind?”

“Master Vulkanus declared he would create equipment suitable for the new era.”

“Lord. Change doesn’t always have positive aspects, so sticking to the existing framework might be more stable for now.”

The head butler, who has served two lords, also plays the role of an advisor, so he expressed his opinion without hesitation.

Of course, Basil relies on him a lot. He’s much older and has broad and deep knowledge.

But that doesn’t mean he always thinks he’s right.

“Didn’t I fail? The current me.”

“No. Who would dare say such a thing? You have not failed, Lord.”

“Do I need someone to tell me? Rather, not being told makes me realize it myself.”

Basil, brushing back his hair, smiled with his mouth only.

“I still have a lot to do, but I just made a pointless, draining remark.”

Returning to his seat, Basil picked up a fountain pen to resume work.

“Is Elder Panir still fasting and in silence?”

Elder Panir was suspected of betrayal and confined to his mansion, and he has kept his mouth shut until now.

“I’m sorry, but yes.”

“I’ll go there myself tonight. We should have dinner together. I was too excited back then. Thinking about it now, I realize there wasn’t enough conversation. We need to correct the mistake before it’s too late.”

“I’ll prepare right away.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The head butler bowed and left the office.

With quick steps, the head butler, Subid, left the main building and arrived at Panir’s mansion.

His pupils had changed. They weren’t the gentle eyes he showed in front of the lord.

His narrowed eyes were fiercely sharp.

* * *

“Head Butler Subid.”

A knight who noticed Subid saluted.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes.”

“Elder Panir too?”

“He hasn’t slept and just sits all day.”

“Tsk, open the door. The lord said he would meet him personally tonight.”

“Understood.”

Around the perimeter of Panir’s mansion, knights with soldiers were tightly guarding, not just escorting, to prevent Elder Panir from escaping.

On the other hand, there were no knights or soldiers inside the mansion. This was a considerate measure for the convenience of the servants working in the mansion.

In the hall of the mansion stood one person, Panir’s personal butler, Prosciutto.

Prosciutto also didn’t look well.

He had been fasting along with Panir and standing most of the day to welcome any possible guests.

“Butler Prosciutto.”

“Who… Head Butler Subid?”

Prosciutto, who had been lost in thought, recognized Subid and raised his head.

“What brings you here…?”

“The lord has decided to visit tonight. He said he would have dinner with Elder Panir.”

“…Only now you tell me?”

A negative aura openly swirled in Prosciutto’s eyes.

“Don’t resent the lord. It wasn’t just suspicion; there was solid evidence. It was a natural measure. I want to ask you too. Are you really innocent?”

“Do you also suspect me and Elder Panir, Head Butler? Why would we betray Sephira? Recording the journal was to uncover any potential traitors.”

“I don’t suspect Elder Panir either. That’s why I plan to clear up the misunderstanding today, so please cooperate.”

“Hoo, my apologies. I’ll guide you to Elder Panir.”

“In your condition? Sit and rest. I know the layout of this place as well as you do.”

“Managing this mansion is my duty. So, I’ll guide…”

Thud.

It happened in an instant.

Subid poked Prosciutto between the chin and neck with his thumb.

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Prosciutto slumped down.

He wasn’t dead. Just unconscious.

“Hey.”

Subid called a passing servant.

“Butler Prosciutto seems very tired. Take him to his bedroom. Don’t wake him.”

The servants thought it made sense. Prosciutto hadn’t eaten or slept much lately. Even they were worried.

Thinking he had fainted from overwork, they took Prosciutto to his bedroom without suspicion.

Thanks to that, Subid headed to the kitchen without interference.

The head chef recognized him and immediately took off his apron, bowing.

“Head Butler Subid.”

“Chef Hulan. How have you been?”

“Yes. But what brings you here?”

“The lord will have dinner with Elder Panir tonight. Can I check the state of the ingredients?”

“This way, please.”

Hulan signaled the sous chefs to finish their tasks and took Subid to the ingredient warehouse.

“Hulan.”

Subid’s voice changed.

At the deep, heavy tone, Hulan also made a tense expression.

“Yes, Head Butler.”

“Now is the moment.”

“…!”

Swish.

Subid took out a small vial from his pocket and handed it to Hulan. Hulan accepted it as if entranced.

Gulp.

Hulan, swallowing his saliva, looked at Subid with trembling eyes, and Subid nodded.

“Use it tonight.”

“To whom… do you mean?”

“Lord Basil.”

“Gasp!”

Hulan was so nervous that he covered his mouth and trembled. Subid patted Hulan’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a medicine that causes stomach pain. I promised it wouldn’t harm you. And-”

Clink.

Subid put five gold coins into Hulan’s pocket.

“It’s a reward for your hard work. But you must take this secret to the grave.”

Hulan was too breathless to answer and just nodded frantically.

“You come out a bit later. You’re sweating too much.”

With that, Subid left Hulan behind, but his task wasn’t over yet.

He had a letter in his pocket.

A letter from Akra to Basil, detailing Keter’s existence. This was also the catalyst that made Basil realize there was a traitor within the family.

Subid, under the pretext of searching the mansion, had hidden the letter inside a portrait, avoiding the eyes of the servants.

He made it seem as if Panir had stolen Basil’s letter. A scheme to drive a wedge between the two.

Subid’s expression wasn’t evil or filled with anger. The old head butler’s eyes were filled with determination.

Why is Head Butler Subid doing this?

For one reason only, for the family.

While Keter was away on a mission, the Sephira family was steadily collapsing from within, just like in the previous life.

A future where Elder Panir is completely branded a traitor by Head Butler Subid, leading to an uncontrollable internal conflict.

But there’s one fact Subid overlooked, or didn’t know.

It didn’t exist in the previous life.

The madman Keter and Sephira’s rose, Catherine.

Catherine is alive. Thanks to Keter’s arrangements.

And now-

Thanks to the new seed Catherine planted by Keter, Elder Panir’s fate is also about to change.