Chapter 90

Chapter 90. Everyone Makes Mistakes (2)

The shape-memory alloy technique required to create portable artifacts. It is a top-tier technology that only the Empire possesses on this vast continent.

Now, even Sephira will have it.

Thanks to whom? Thanks to me, Keter!

It would be great if Sephira acknowledged that and praised me, but life isn’t that easy. If kindness continues, people start to think it’s their right.

Who can guarantee that what happened to the hunting dog that caught the rabbit won’t happen to me?

That’s why I need a safety net. To prepare for Sephira changing her words, to block the fundamental betrayal.

The old dwarf’s face is all scrunched up. It’s not that he doesn’t understand. It’s the reaction of someone who does.

It’s understandable. From his perspective, it must seem like I don’t trust Sephira.

Ah, well, I don’t.

“Are you disappointed? If you don’t like it, just say so.”

I have nothing to lose. It’s true that it would be good for Sephira to have the technology for portable artifacts, but that technology doesn’t necessarily have to belong to Sephira.

Elves and dwarves are rare, but if you look for them, you can find them.

Even if it’s a bit troublesome, I can make a contract with another dwarf to learn the shape-memory alloy technique and have them ‘deliver’ bows and arrows to Sephira.

A little inconvenience to protect my rights is something I can endure.

“You’re more meticulous than an elf and greedier than a dwarf. I’m worried about Sephira’s future.”

“Sephira is falling apart because it’s neither greedy nor meticulous.”

“Tch, you’re not even trying to argue. Fine. If I can learn the shape-memory alloy technique, the rights to that technology will belong to you. The ownership of the portable artifacts I make will also be yours. So, Sephira will buy them from you, right?”

“Old dwarf. Are you trying to make me look like trash? I won’t take money. Let’s just say I’m lending it.”

“Lending…?”

The old dwarf is pondering what that means when Luke interrupts. He’s been glaring at me for a while now, so something must be bothering him.

“Keter. The mansion you live in, the food, the servants—they all belong to Sephira. Sephira hasn’t asked you for money. Yet, you’re planning to demand the rights to the technology from Sephira?”

Is there really such a stupid thing in the world?

Luke, looking at you reminds me of the causality the Grand Duke mentioned. This is definitely luck. Otherwise, it’s unexplainable.

Because of my father’s choice, you became my partner. And of all people, you’re the son of old man Jacques, and you even have a mouth-watering ability.

If even one of these three things were missing, I wouldn’t have kept you by my side, nor would I have bothered responding to your stupid remarks.

But is this good causality or bad causality? Anyway, I’ll answer your nonsense.

“The rights I enjoy are not Sephira’s favor but the rights of nobility. The rights of nobility were not created by Sephira but by this world and the laws of the kingdom. Kid, did you really think Sephira has been feeding you all this time? It’s the taxes of this country that feed you. You’re just a knight belonging to Sephira.”

“……!”

“That’s why you’re a kid. Just because you don’t like something doesn’t make it logical. If you don’t have logic, at least have strength. Do you think you can beat me?”

He’s not denying or affirming, just keeping his mouth shut, but I’m sure he’s thinking inside. He probably thinks he won’t win, but he won’t lose completely either.

Anyway, people with good bloodlines think they’re the best with just a little praise. I’ve been too lenient with you because you’re old man Jacques’ son.

“That was the fourth lesson. If you don’t have logic, at least have strength. No matter what nonsense you spout, it’ll be the right answer.”

“Why are you so strict? Sephira is your family. It’s your hometown and home. It’s okay to be a little biased.”

Normally, Luke would have shut up and backed off by now, but today, for some reason, he’s not backing down.

Haha, good job. Don’t back down. Don’t be intimidated by anyone, no matter who they are. Even if the other person is right, push through with your will.

Don’t live according to the world. Make the world adjust to you.

“That’s your perspective, not mine. To me, family is family, and I am me. If you don’t like me, what should you do? Just leave my side. It’s simple. Want to change me? Then be stronger than me. Impossible, right?”

“I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Snap! He flicked his finger.

“Good confidence.”

I turned my gaze away from Luke. So, what are you going to do? Are you going to challenge me? In front of old man Vulkanus, in front of countless blacksmiths? Can you show me that you can ignore the gazes of others?

Then Luke took a step back. Ah, not that far? What a shame.

“Old man. Need more time?”

“No. I understand. You…”

Vulkanus, who cut off his words, took a step closer to me and whispered.

“You’re keeping in mind the possibility of being betrayed by Sephira, right?”

“Let’s just say that’s the case.”

“Basil isn’t that kind of person… but you don’t know Basil. So, I understand.”

Vulkanus brought his hammer and said.

“I swear on the soul of a blacksmith. The rights to use the shape-memory alloy technique I’ve learned belong to you, Keter. I’ll inform Basil as well. The portable artifacts will be lent under your name, and accordingly, they can be recalled and destroyed.”

“Perfect.”

“One last question. If we proceed like this, your relationship with Basil will be strained. If others find out the details, they won’t look favorably on you. Are you okay with that?”

“The time to care about how others see me has passed.”

“A brat not even twenty years old saying such things. Hahaha!”

“This is all yours now, old man.”

I put down everything I received from the Birang Tribe, the magical tools and portable artifacts obtained from Ruquer.

“How long will it take to analyze the technology?”

“Just wait a moment.”

Old man Vulkanus examined the portable artifacts one by one and confidently said.

“They’re all in good condition. Especially the Birang Tribe’s artifacts, as expected, don’t have any security systems that would destroy the structure or formulas upon disassembly. It’s a shame there’s no bow among the portable artifacts, but with the crossbow, understanding the principle shouldn’t be difficult.”

“A week?”

“Even with ten dwarf technicians, it wouldn’t be that fast. This isn’t even my specialty. It’ll take three months just to disassemble and analyze. Making a prototype will take another month.”

“It’s not due to a lack of experts or materials, right?”

“It’s an area impossible for humans. Only a veteran dwarf blacksmith can reduce the time. Materials aren’t an issue either. There’s enough material to make a prototype, though mass production is a different story.”

It would have been nice to showcase the portable artifacts at the Southern Sword Tournament, but it seems impossible.

If I push, something similar might come out, but it wouldn’t be as good as not showing it at all.

“I’ll assume I’ll receive the prototype after the Southern Sword Tournament ends.”

“Huh? Keter, are you also participating in the Southern Sword Tournament? As far as I know, all participants have been decided.”

“I’m participating separately. But why?”

“Basil requested the creation of Blue Steel arrows for the tournament participants. He asked for 120 arrows, but it doesn’t seem like your share is included.”

Blue Steel. Its strength is inferior to steel, but it’s a rare mineral with excellent aura infusion efficiency.

Its mana adaptability is also outstanding, so it’s mainly used in magical tool production, making it nearly as expensive as Amantiir.

If only the arrowhead is made of Blue Steel, it costs 8 gold per arrow. If the entire arrow is made of Blue Steel, it’s a whopping 15 gold per arrow. That’s a soldier’s monthly salary flying away with each arrow.

It’s an unusually generous decision for my father. Until now, he’s been meticulous about arrow quality but never relied on arrow performance.

It shows how serious my father is about this Southern Sword Tournament.

120 arrows mean, as old man Vulkanus said, that I’m not included. Archers typically carry 30 arrows. 30 arrows are like a symbol of luck for an archer. They wouldn’t divide it unluckily into 20.

“Basil might have forgotten about you due to his age. Since you’re participating in the tournament, should I make your share of Blue Steel arrows too?”

The old man’s lips twitch. He’s curious how I’ll react to being excluded, but I couldn’t care less.

“Do as you please.”

As long as others don’t harm me, it’s fine.

* * *

The entrance to the blacksmith is chaotic. A group of knights is blocking the entrance.

At the head of the knights is Gant, the 4th Division Captain of the Lunar Knight Order. He received a report that Keter entered the blacksmith and is waiting, blocking the entrance.

Even the knights Gant brought are all the family’s strongest, members of the Lunar Knight Order.

“Young Master Keter. You can’t run away like last time.”

At Gant’s imposing words, Keter let out a deep sigh.

“I’m sure I told you. I’ll come find you on my own, so there’s no need to rush.”

In a time when knightly strength is precious, he mobilized five Lunar Knights just to block Keter’s path.

Feeling the unfavorable gazes around him, Gant frowned. He wanted to yell at Keter. You’re the one who escalated things this far.

But Leganon had warned him. The moment he privately mobilized the Lunar Knights, criticism was unavoidable. In that situation, if the conversation with Keter dragged on, only they would lose.

“As a member of Sephira, how can you refuse the invitation of Elder Leganon, a senior of the family? Please stop undermining the hierarchy.”

“You’re really desperate, huh? Should I go or not? Should I?”

Grit.

Gant clenched his teeth. He wanted to punch Keter’s smirking face right then and there.

But knowing it was Keter’s trap, he held his chest and endured.

“Elder Leganon has ‘requested’ it. Will you still refuse the invitation?”

The Elder’s request.

Even the family head couldn’t ignore its impact. The onlookers started whispering, ‘Even if we don’t know what’s going on, if it’s a request, shouldn’t you go?’

Gant smiled triumphantly.

‘Public opinion is on my side. Keter, if you refuse here, I’ll have the justification to subdue you by force.’

It was a naive thought. To think Keter would be swayed by ‘public opinion.’

“If it’s the Elder’s request, of course I’ll go. But…”

Keter, with his finger on his chin, uttered devastating words.

“Can we call someone who’s colluding with Baydant an Elder?”

“…….”

“……?”

Even the blacksmiths, busy with their work amidst the commotion, stopped.

In the blacksmith filled with hundreds of people, a dreadful silence fell. Everyone doubted their ears. What did Keter just say?

Kindly, Keter repeated.

“If it’s the Elder’s words, I’ll listen, but there’s no need to listen to a traitor’s words, right?”

“Y-you!”

The moment Keter called Leganon a traitor, Gant’s reason flew away. He made a mistake he would never normally make.

He should have calmly treated Keter as a madman. But unable to hold back, he shot an arrow like lightning. An arrow filled with rage shot towards Keter with a piercing sound.

This was tantamount to admitting it. That Keter’s words were true.

The onlookers didn’t speak, but their minds were already filled with one thought.

‘Why is Sir Gant attacking Young Master Keter? Is it true that Elder Leganon has joined hands with Baydant?’

Gant, who shot the arrow, regretted it, but it was too late. He couldn’t control the arrow he had shot.

‘This… if Keter dies, it’ll be like I admitted his words.’

Gant shot another arrow.

The 6th form of the Yellow Path Twelve Palaces, Yaksha Palace.

The fastest arrow, spinning in a spiral, was shot.

This arrow was more than five times faster than the first arrow Gant had shot. The intention was to shoot down the first arrow with the second, but it was a futile effort.

In Keter’s left hand, the black bow, Amaranth, was held. An aura arrow was nocked on the string. Keter pulled and released the string.

At that moment, Gant’s arrow was right in front of Keter’s bow.

Crack!

Keter’s aura arrow, shot like lightning, shattered Gant’s first arrow head-on, then collided with the second arrow that followed.

Bang!

Keter’s aura arrow and Gant’s arrow exploded in mid-air. The shockwave made people cover their eyes and shrink back.

Keter brushed back his fluttering hair and licked his lips.

“Now it’s my turn?”

A dark arrow, a mana arrow, was nocked on Amaranth’s string.