Chapter 106: Become a Butterfly (2)

Keter held out both palms. In his right hand was aura, and in his left hand was a sphere of mana.

“I already know that you use aura and mana simultaneously. Is that the way to kill a god? But I am not blessed with the ability to wield both at once,” Gyro said.

“I'm not blessed either. And listen to the whole explanation first.”

Clap!

Keter clapped.

Aura and mana repelled each other like magnets. Under normal circumstances, such a collision should have caused an explosion. But no explosion occurred. Instead, radiant light seeped through the gaps between his fingers.

“This is...?”

Gyro's eyes widened in shock at the sight. Aura and mana were like fire and water—they could never merge, yet that exact thing was happening before his eyes. How could he not be astounded at such an impossibility?

Keter opened his hands. A pure white sphere had formed in his palms.

Tzzzzzt!

The white sphere, a fusion of aura and mana, trembled as it struggled to maintain its form. And then, from within, it crumbled and faded into nothingness.

Keter flicked his hand, shaking off the remnants of energy, before speaking about what was forbidden in this world.

“This power is called Ein

.

When aura and mana merge, only their strengths remain and none of their weaknesses. Its sheer power is overwhelming. But, of course, it doesn’t come for free. You need at least a hundred years' worth of both aura and mana to create it.”

“If I have the power of Ein, can I kill a god?”

“Of course not. You would also need to reach seven-star Prime. From what I’ve deduced, I think it means an eight-star Irregular with Ein. And to kill the queen, you would need to go beyond that—to the unknown nine-star realm. You need a power beyond Ein—Ein Sof.

That’s everything I know.”

“...Where did you learn such forbidden knowledge, Boss?”

“Don’t ask questions you know I won’t answer.”

“...I apologize. It just sounded so ridiculous that... That was a foolish question.”

Gyro lowered his head, falling into a long silence.

Keter, unfazed, used the moment to continue his self-destructive training method.

“So if Ein is necessary... That means I can never kill a god.”

“If it were impossible for you, I wouldn’t have told you about it in the first place. Did you already forget? I said I’m not blessed either. There is a way to become blessed artificially.”

A blessed body simply meant a person capable of holding both aura and mana at once.

Keter explained that by abandoning his aura entirely, he could artificially alter his body to accept both forces.

But Gyro shook his head.

“I don’t know how long it would take me to accumulate a hundred years’ worth of power. And even if I somehow created Ein, there’s no guarantee I would ever reach the seven-star realm.”

"Did you think there would be a shortcut, like your Demon Sword? I don’t think that’s impossible, but you really think life’s that easy?”

“After experiencing a shortcut like a Demon Sword, climbing a mountain with no end in sight just seems... impossible. Not even eight-star, but nine-star just to stand a chance against the queen...? What about the Four Lords? Can they be defeated at Prime with Ein?”

“Hmm... let me think.”

Keter recalled his battle against Deyal, the Lord of the East—The Slasher of Skies. He had definitely used the power of Ein. But it wasn’t his own. It was borrowed from an external source. And there was only one existence who could lend Ein to Deyal: Queen Lillian.

In other words, even Deyal wasn’t truly at an eight-star level; he was somewhere between seven and eight.

If someone at Prime fought Deyal, the one wielding Ein would win, no question. But against a real Irregular, Deyal would lose. His power wasn’t his own, so it was bound to have limits.

But what about the other Lords? Keter had never fought them, so he couldn’t say.

“If the Lord is fighting alone, and four Grandmasters are risking their lives to keep them distracted... maybe it’s possible.”

“That sounds completely unrealistic. Then why did you say that it could be possible when I asked you in Liqueur?”

“Because obtaining Ein isn’t just about learning to merge aura and mana. It’s like going from a five-star Master to a six-star Grandmaster. You can’t just build your strength and get it—it requires enlightenment

,

a threshold you can only cross through understanding. And you... you have the potential to reach eight-star.”

“Boss... are you at Prime? I’ve heard that when someone reaches the Prime level, their body returns to its peak, and they stop aging. Otherwise, how else could you know so much?”

“Are you more interested in who I am? Or how to take revenge?”

“If you’re already at Prime and planning to kill Lillian, then there’s no reason for me to do it myself.”

Gyro’s spirit wavered. The sheer absurdity of what Keter had explained made his resolve crumble. Not even alcohol could bolster his courage now.

He had been stuck at four-star for years. It was a nameless, insignificant level. And he was already over sixty. Starting from scratch to reach five-star, then six, then seven? And on top of that, abandoning all of his aura to begin again?

Even if he dedicated his entire life to this path, he might never reach eight-star since time was fair to everyone. While he trained, the queen would grow stronger, and the nation would rise in power. The Four Lords might even become the Six Lords.

Keter’s faith in him was flattering, but Gyro wasn’t confident about starting over or becoming an Irregular. This wasn’t weakness—it was human. Anyone would break down after hearing Keter’s words.

Smack!

Keter slapped Gyro across the face, snapping his head to the side. It was a slap delivered with all his strength.

“You’re right. Compared to the queen and the lords, you are nothing but an insect.”

“...”

Gyro couldn’t even refute it. He just hung his head.

And this time, Keter drove his fist into Gyro’s side. He hit him so strongly that Gyro, who hadn’t wavered even after countless attacks from the trio, rolled across the ground.

“Say it. Say you’re an insect.”

Even with the insult, Gyro mumbled lifelessly.

“I’m an insect.”

“Then become a butterfly, Gyro.”

“...!”

“An insect crawling in the dirt won’t even catch Lillian’s eye. You would just be crushed under the boots of her Four Lords. But if you become a butterfly, you can at least face her directly. You might even be able to annoy her. And if you’re lucky... maybe, just maybe, you’ll get to look down on her.”

Keter extended his hand.

“An insect just has to fight like one.”

“...Hah.”

Gyro let out a breath. Then, he burst into laughter.

“Haha... Hah! Hah hah hah hah hah!”

He didn’t take Keter’s hand. Instead, he stood on his own. His eyes burned with life once more.

“You’re too cruel. Calling me an insect?”

“It’s just a metaphor.”

“You’ve saved my life twice now.”

“You looked desperate to live. I just tossed you a rope. You’re the one who grabbed it.”

“Ah, I see. Hah.”

Gyro lifted his greatsword onto his shoulder and exhaled deeply.

“I’ve got an idea now. I’m heading to the arena in the warrior nation, Adeus. I hear even Master-level warriors fight to the death there. I’ll either die or become a five-star Master.”

“You didn’t need to tell me.”

“If I survive, I’ll join the Twilight Guild. Do you know them?”

“I do.”

The Twilight Guild was a guild of those who used cursed gear. Their numbers were unknown, but Keter estimated there were eight or nine of them. A small group, but elite beyond comparison.

They do have a good understanding of cursed gear. I fought two of them in my past life. They came for my soul. Obviously, I killed them both. I wonder if they will come again? Or would Gyro’s choices alter fate?

“You know Twilight, yet you won’t stop me?”

Twilight wasn’t just a cursed weapon guild. They were a global criminal syndicate. Their hands were stained with murder and plunder—not of commoners but of nobles. Every member had a bounty of at least five hundred thousand gold.

“Gyro. I don’t waste sympathy on the innocent and weak.”

“I thought you were a hero.”

“Hah. Do I look insane to you?”

“Then are you a villain?”

“No. I am who I am.”

“...You’re insane, boss.”

“You’ve got guts, talking to me like that.”

“A crazy boss needs a crazy subordinate. Next time we meet, I’ll still call you boss.”

“Fine, then. My subordinate.”

Gyro placed his left hand over his stomach and bowed deeply.

“Stay well, Boss.”

* * *

The day after Gyro’s departure.

As always, the morning sun rose, but an unprecedented tension and busyness filled Sefira. Every soldier and knight maintained a strict state of alert, while vassals and servants remained in their assigned positions. They held their breath, preserving absolute silence.

Even the world itself seemed to echo Sefira’s stillness—no wind, no birdsong, no chirping insects. It was as if time had frozen.

All of this was because the great council chamber of Sefira had been opened.

Keter was not the only one preparing for the future. Besil, the patriarch, had also made a bold decision to reshape Sefira’s fate.

Attendance at this assembly, convened to discuss Sefira’s future, was mandatory for every key figure in the family. It had been twenty years since the great council chamber was last opened. The vassals of Sefira could not contain their nervousness, as a new wind swept through Sefira every time they convened.

One by one, the key members of the household entered the chamber. Lining the hallway leading to the council chamber stood the Order of the Galaxy. At the grand doors of the chamber, two knights conducted body searches thoroughly from head to groin to toe. No exceptions were made, not even for Elder Panir and Reganon.

Once the search was completed, each participant dipped their fingers into freshly drawn well water from dawn and pressed it to their forehead. When the water droplets trickled down past their chin, they looked up at the ceiling, where the names of past ancestors were engraved, and solemnly swore an oath.

“I, Panir El Sefira, pledge upon my burning heart and frozen soul to speak only the truth beyond this door and to never remain silent for the sake of Sefira’s peace.”

Only after this oath was completed could they enter the council chamber.

Inside, three silver tables were arranged. At the central seat of the head table sat Besil, with Panir and Reganon flanking him. One seat remained vacant—the place of Ricotta.

To the right of the head table sat the department heads overseeing the household’s administration: the treasurer, the director of human resources, the director of agriculture, and finally, the director of the workshop, Volkanus.

On the left side sat the commanders of the knight orders: the Sacred Order of Sefira, the Order of the Galaxy, and the Order of the Stars.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Thud!

The heavy doors of the council chamber shut. Shortly after, Chief Butler Suvide rose to commence the proceedings.

“Total members: twelve. One seat vacant. Current attendance: eleven. Lord Besil El Sefira, please declare the opening of the council.”

Dressed in ceremonial robes of black with silver trim, Besil lightly tapped the wooden gavel onto the heavy slab before him.

Thud. Thud.

A deep resonance filled the council chamber.

Then, in a solemn voice, Besil spoke, “I hereby declare the commencement of the ninety-second great council.”