Chapter 54

Episode 54. Call Me the Archery Genius (4)

Keter returned to Hakoz Village. There were things to check before heading back to the main house.

“Lord Keter.”

On the way to the assembly hall, a man blocked his path. He suddenly pulled out a small metal cube and a rod.

“It wouldn’t be proper to go empty-handed, so I stayed in the village to give you this.”

The man was one of the survivors of the Birang Tribe.

“What’s this?”

“Weapons and armor crafted using the Birang Tribe’s metallurgy. It contains the essence of shape-memory alloy techniques. Please deliver it to Elder Leganon.”

“Do you know how to make the shape-memory alloy? That would be more helpful.”

“Apologies. Our group only has warriors, so we know nothing about metallurgy.”

“Got it. Go on.”

“Yes.”

The man disappeared before his eyes.

Luke approached and poked the metal rod and cube with his fingers.

“Keter, did I hear that right? These are weapons and armor? How can something this small be a weapon or armor?”

“Just infuse it with aura.”

When Keter infused the rod with aura, it transformed into a sword in the blink of an eye. The rod, which was only as long as a finger, turned into a two-meter-long greatsword.

It was an excessively large size for a human, but a perfect longsword for a werewolf.

“Whoa, that’s amazing. How do you turn it back? Do you use aura for that too?”

“No, just fold it with strength.”

“Fold it… with strength?”

Since carrying around a two-meter-long greatsword wasn’t practical, Keter demonstrated. He placed the tip of the sword on the ground and forcefully pressed the hilt down.

The veins on Keter’s arm bulged. The sword made creaking and snapping sounds as the blade began to compress.

Once the hilt was compressed, the rest of the blade naturally curled up, returning to its original rod form.

Given that it was a weapon for werewolves, compressing it again would be difficult without werewolf-level strength. In other words, Keter’s strength was at least on par with a werewolf.

‘So this was the Birang Tribe’s technology.’

Keter had seen such weapons and armor in Ruquer.

This was the Portable Artifact, equipment only used by officers in the Empire. The foundation of this technology was the Birang Tribe’s shape-memory alloy.

Since it was exclusively produced in the Empire, no one had uncovered the secret of the technology. Yet, here he was, discovering its origin so easily.

And now, it was in his hands.

‘A crisis is an opportunity. That saying really holds true.’

If he could create bows and arrows using shape-memory alloy, the possibilities were endless.

‘Old Man Vulkanus would be jumping with excitement.’

They say dwarves would even risk their lives for new technology. Keter was curious about Vulkanus’s reaction to the shape-memory alloy.

But simply handing it over wouldn’t be meaningful.

The Birang Tribe’s artifacts were relics of the past. To truly understand the manufacturing process, the Empire’s ‘Portable Artifact,’ enhanced with practicality, needed to be studied alongside them.

“Another reason to return to Ruquer.”

“Keter, what did you say?”

“Fun, right? You think so too?”

“Huh? Uh…”

Luke still hadn’t fully regained his composure after the battle.

He was grappling with his identity.

Who am I to have such abilities? It’s good to be free from the curse, but what should I do now? He was lost in these troubling thoughts.

Keter didn’t bother intervening in Luke’s musings.

He wasn’t interested.

Arriving at the assembly hall, Keter knocked on the door.

“Chief! Open up. Unless you want to die.”

No response came from inside.

Keter rubbed his forehead.

“I definitely started with polite words.”

Keter broke the locked handle with sheer strength and entered the assembly hall.

“I know you’re in there. Come out in three seconds. If I have to find you, there’ll be a funeral today.”

“Y-yes, I’m here. I was looking for something and didn’t hear you.”

The chief, who had been crouching under a corner table, jumped up.

Keter put an arm around the chief’s shoulder.

“See what I look like now?”

Keter was a mess after the fierce battle.

The chief nodded vigorously.

“If I hear any nonsense like ‘I didn’t know anything’ from you, I’ll rip out your tongue. Understood?”

The chief nodded again, even more vigorously.

No matter how old you are, if you have a lot to lose, death is terrifying.

“That missing knight… what was his name, Luke?”

“Uh, ah… right. We came here for a mission. The knight’s name was…”

Luke had also forgotten, so he pulled out the mission board to check.

“Raynald. He’s from the Holy Knight Order.”

“Know the name? What did you do with him? Just tell me that.”

“D-do with him? We sent Sir Raynald safely to the Empire.”

“The Empire? More like the afterlife.”

“No, why would we kill Sir Raynald?”

“How should I know? Maybe to lure Catherine.”

“There’s a misunderstanding, Lord Keter. Sir Raynald wanted to leave. We just helped him with that.”

The chief began to explain in detail, feeling wronged.

Raynald had been causing trouble within the Holy Knight Order. He kept saying things like “We have no chance” and “We’re all going to die,” spreading negativity everywhere.

He even confessed to the Holy Knight Commander that he wanted to return to his hometown.

Elder Leganon couldn’t let Raynald, who was negatively affecting the order, stay, so he allowed him to leave the family as he wished.

However, he couldn’t send him back to his hometown. If that got out, everyone would want to return home, and morale would plummet.

So, they sent him to the Empire.

Of course, his family went with him.

“It’s true that we worked in this village to lure Catherine, but we never intended to harm her.”

“Well said. Then why did you call Catherine? Are you going to say she was depressed too?”

“Catherine is a woman. You know what happens when a female knight is captured by the enemy. Elder Leganon couldn’t bear to see the talented young Catherine suffer such a fate…”

“Listening to you, I wonder why you know so much. When did a village chief in the middle of nowhere gain so much authority?”

“Elder Leganon is upright. He holds great principles, so he doesn’t hide his intentions even from us lower beings.”

“Loyal servant, huh.”

Keter removed his arm from the chief’s shoulder and looked into his eyes.

The chief averted his gaze, but Keter didn’t follow.

“Chief. You have children, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Elder Leganon is finished. Why? Because he hid the Birang Tribe without the lord’s permission. I’m going to expose that. What do you think will happen to Elder Leganon, who hid the Seven Evil Tribes the Emperor is desperately searching for?”

“……”

“Don’t you want to see your grandchildren? You should send your children to the city. You can’t let them rot in this backwater village.”

“What more do you want to hear from me? I haven’t lied.”

“Remember this. If someone asks you to choose sides, think about whose side you’ll take.”

“…!”

“And stop leeching off the soldiers. You need to coexist, not parasitize.”

“Coexist…”

“I’m leaving.”

Keter left the assembly hall, leaving the chief behind.

He had presented the options. The rest was up to the chief. If he makes the wrong choice and it causes trouble for me? Then there won’t be any options left.

Outside the assembly hall, Knight Haribo was waiting.

“Lord Keter. We’ve captured all the criminals and prepared the carriages. Please give your orders!”

Keter didn’t have the authority to give orders. Yet, Haribo treated him with utmost respect, as if he were his superior.

“Haribo, was it?”

“Yes! I’m from the 7th Division of the Constellation Knight Order.”

“Already trying to get in line, huh?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

“I’m from the Lawless City, and I’ve only been in the family for two days. Even the main family calls me a troublemaker, you know?”

“I trust my own judgment more than others’ opinions!”

“You fool. Isn’t that just gambling? I like it. I’ll remember that name.”

“Thank you!”

Keter’s first mission, which started with just the two of them, ended with a grand return. They came back under the escort of the castle soldiers.

* * *

The south gate of House Sephira.

This place, with only a few soldiers stationed due to its low threat of intrusion, was bustling with activity for the first time in a long time.

It was because of Keter and Luke, who returned with the castle soldiers.

The presence of the knights from House Baydant, bound and loaded onto five carriages, was overwhelming. The field supervisor panicked and reported to his superior, and immediately, the knight order gathered at the south gate.

The knights, recognizing the cross spear symbolizing House Baydant, were shocked.

“This spear isn’t a fake. It must be a knight from House Baydant.”

“Commander. L-look here. It’s the Dragon Spear. Among the captives is Dragon Spear Jordic!”

“That can’t be… Oh my?!”

Dragon Spear Jordic’s face was well-known. More than being the youngest son of House Baydant, his title as the Dragon Spear was incredibly prestigious.

Haribo, the commander of the castle soldiers, stepped forward to explain the situation.

“Lord Keter and Sir Luke subdued them all. I saw it with my own eyes.”

Strictly speaking, it was after the battle had ended, but to Haribo, the process didn’t matter. The fact was that all the knights from House Baydant were defeated before Keter.

At the time, Haribo didn’t even ask Keter “What happened?” This was a move that earned him high marks from Keter.

“What happened? Why were the knights from House Baydant in Hakoz Village, and how did Lord Keter and Sir Luke subdue them?”

The south gate’s chief security officer pressed Hakoz for answers.

Hakoz, sensing the situation, turned to Keter.

“It would be better to ask Lord Keter about that. I only handled the aftermath.”

“Hmm…!”

Finally, all eyes turned to Keter, the protagonist of the incident.

Their gazes were filled with suspicion and doubt.

Even the knight accompanying Keter was Luke, known as a coward.

A troublemaker and a coward captured seven knights from House Baydant, alive no less, which is harder than killing them.

It was a story no one could believe.

“Lord Keter.”

“Rank and name.”

“Hakcen, captain of the south gate defense, Holy Knight Order.”

“Hakcen, treat the Baydant guys and put them in the dungeon.”

At Keter’s words, Hakcen looked troubled.

“My lord. These men have illegally invaded Sephira’s territory. Torture and interrogation wouldn’t be enough, and you want to treat them? The lord wouldn’t allow it.”

“Who said no to torture? I’ll do it, so make sure they’re healthy. Or do I not have the authority? They’re my captives, after all.”

“All decisions in Sephira are made by the lord.”

“Then let him decide. Until then, do as I say.”

“…I’ll have to say it was your order. Please understand that.”

“Fine.”

Keter walked past Hakcen.

Then, a familiar voice called out.

“My lord!”

It was the voice of Jacques, the butler, who had come to greet him.

“Looks like you’re finally back home.”

“Are you alright? Let’s head to the treatment room first.”

“For me, the dining room is the treatment room. Let’s go to the dining room. Old man, have you eaten?”

“You’re covered in blood. Your clothes are torn. How can you be fine?”

“Do you need me to strip to believe me? Should I?”

“If you’re going to the dining room, let’s go to the bathroom first. We need to make sure you’re really okay.”

“If you want to see, look here first.”

Keter used Luke as a shield.

Jacques examined Luke. He was dirty, and his clothes were even more tattered than Keter’s, but there were no bloodstains or visible injuries.

But as a father, he could tell. Even if his body was unharmed, his heart was wounded.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

In a place with many eyes, he couldn’t pat his grown child’s head, so Jacques patted Luke’s back instead.

Luke didn’t hide his tired expression.

“Father. I have something to tell you.”

“Alright, I’ll listen. But for now…”

The role of a butler was more important than that of a father.

As Jacques tried to attend to Keter first, Keter grimaced.

“Since when have you been carrying me around? I’ll cause trouble on my own, so take care of my friend first.”

“Friend…!”

Keter had called Luke a friend, not a partner.

In that case, Jacques had no choice.

“Let’s go.”

“Thank you, Keter.”

The two left.

Keter stretched comfortably.

“Let’s eat until we’re full, take a bath to sweat it out. Does the family have a masseuse?”

As he headed straight to the dining room.

A knight blocked his path. A knight in silver armor, symbolizing the Lunar Knight Order.

It was a knight Keter was familiar with.

“You’ve caused quite a stir.”

Gant, captain of the 4th Division of the Lunar Knight Order.

Leganon’s loyal subordinate had come to find Keter.

Keter spoke with a bored expression.

“Must be urgent, huh? Showing up in front of me without any notice.”

“Lower your voice. Elder Leganon has summoned you. It would be best to follow quietly.”

“Haha, haven’t you grasped the situation yet? Or did the report not reach you? If he wants to see me, tell him to come himself.”

“Come himself? What kind of attitude is that towards Elder Leganon? He’s the elder of the family. Show some respect!”

Gant’s voice boomed. The servants passing by flinched.

Keter rubbed his ear.

“Leganon must be hard of hearing if he always speaks so loudly. I can hear just fine even if I speak softly, so don’t worry. If he wants to see me, tell him to come himself. I’ll meet the great elder, no problem.”

Keter brushed past Gant, ignoring him.

Gant reached out towards Keter’s arm, determined to drag him by force if necessary.

Thud!

But what he grabbed wasn’t Keter’s arm.

Gant’s arm was caught.

“Y-you…”

Gant’s voice trembled as his arm was held.

The knight holding Gant’s arm spoke calmly.

“Sir Gant. Long time no see. It seems you have business with Lord Keter. May I take my leave first?”

“O-of course, Commander.”

The Lunar Knight Commander.

With white hair and wrinkles that showed his age, the reason he still held the position of commander was clear.

Strength.

The commander exuded an overwhelming aura, regardless of his age.

Keter couldn’t help but let out an “Oh-” upon seeing the commander.

“Impressive.”

“You flatter me, Lord Keter. I am Gasilious.”

Gasilious greeted Keter with the etiquette of a knight.

Keter liked his attitude.

“This is more like it. Who would want to talk if it starts with threats? If you want a physical conversation, that’s welcome too.”

“Grr…”

Gant, still not leaving, gritted his teeth as he looked at Keter.

Gasilious addressed Keter again with proper etiquette.

“My lord. The lord is looking for you. If possible, I would like you to come with me now.”

“Not possible. I’m hungry and sticky after the fight. I’ll eat, wash up, and then come. Tell him that.”

Gant was convinced Keter was truly insane. Ignoring the Lunar Knight Commander’s request was one thing, but ignoring the lord’s summons?

This was tantamount to disregarding the entire House Sephira.

Yet, Gasilious bowed his head and said.

“I will inform the lord. Then…”

Gasilious turned his gaze to Gant.

Gant flinched under the gaze.

“Sir Gant. Please convey to Elder Leganon that I request his understanding.”

“…Yes, Commander.”

Gant clenched his teeth and glared at Keter. It was the best and only action he could take.