Chapter 123: Weak Convictions Are Meaningless (1)

Many nobles were staying in Gigaster, a satellite city of Eslow’s fief. They weren’t in the major city yet, but they were ready to do so at a moment’s notice.

Gigaster also had hotels reserved exclusively for high nobles, and as was customary for luxury establishments, these hotels featured massage rooms. Because everything uttered by the high nobility was considered top secret, all masseurs were either born deaf or had lost their hearing later in life. This ensured that nobles could converse freely, discussing matters of great importance without restraint.

“The Sefira carriage has entered the fief.”

Count Delmore, lying on a massage bed with only the bare essentials covered, was the first to bring up the topic. He was one of the four nobles financially pressuring Sefira through the Ultima Trading Company.

Opposite him, Count Bristan chuckled, shifting slightly on his bed.

“Hahaha! I bet they’re being turned away from hotels as we speak. It would have been quite a sight to witness.”

Count Eiwen, without lifting his head, merely raised a hand and said, “We spent quite a bit of money bribing the hotel managers. This has to be the perfect opportunity to shake Sefira to its core.”

Rolling onto his side, Count Delmore raised his voice.

“The Sword of the South Tournament will be the finishing blow to Sefira’s downfall. They won’t be able to secure proper lodging in hotels and eventually settle for an inn—likely the best they can find on the outskirts. That’s where our plan begins.”

“Their pride will already be wounded, and no matter how they react, it will only work in our favor. And if they are utterly humiliated in the tournament, their downfall will be inevitable. Everything they own will be ours to divide.”

“This has been a long time coming. We should prepare to reap our harvest. Just thinking about it gives me chills.”

At that moment, Marquess Galahind, who had remained silent, said curtly, “Do not forget that Sefira’s Zodiac Archery techniques and cultivation methods belong to me.”

The four high nobles, united under the Ultima Trading Company, had originally been brought together by Galahind. As the leader of their alliance, he was the first to assert his claims.

Not to be outdone, the others quickly made their own stakes known.

“Sefira’s lands belong to me,” Delmore declared.

“All artifacts and relics fall under my ownership,” Eiwen added.

“I only want Laurel, that young lady. The rest is meaningless to me.”

Bristan, who was nearing seventy years old, looked flushed as he shamelessly uttered the name of Besil’s only daughter.

The masseurs, who could not listen to anything they said, continued their work in silence. The nobles would never have discussed these matters so carelessly if they realized these supposedly deaf masseurs had mastered the art of lip-reading, but there was no way of knowing.

Just then, a knight from Delmore entered, lifting the curtain. He whispered something to Delmore. The nobles here were supposedly on the same side, but there seemed to be a sense of distrust among them.

Once the report was finished, Delmore sat up in his bed and burst into laughter.

“Ahaha! This is splendid news! Everyone, sit up!”

He even gestured for the masseurs to leave.

Eiwen, who was enjoying the massage, frowned.

“Control yourself, Count Delmore. Why are you laughing so foolishly?”

“How can I not laugh? Sefira’s fools have gone to the palace!”

“What? That’s beyond idiotic. They couldn’t stay in a hotel, and they refused to lodge at a common inn, so their solution was to walk into the merciless Eslow’s palace?”

“If that information is true, then they’ve jumped straight into the lion’s maw in a pathetic attempt to escape a wolf.”

Not one of them entertained the notion that Sefira could possibly win Eslow’s favor, and they had no reason to. For two hundred years, Eslow had never accepted a single guest. The palace did indeed have rooms for honored visitors, but those were exclusively reserved for any of the other Four Lords or foreign envoys. Not once had he allowed even a high noble or an esteemed family to stay within its walls.

Regardless of merit in war, victory in the Sword of the South Tournament, or even the title of the kingdom's greatest swordsman, no noble had ever been permitted entry. Even lavish offerings of artifacts had been met with nothing more than a curt word of thanks—never an invitation.

And this was Sefira: the weakest of the master families in the Lilian Kingdom. What could Sefira possibly offer Eslow? What proposal could they make? Going to Eslow, who already looked upon them with disdain, was simply suicide.

Bristan stroked his beard, murmuring, “I never thought Sefira could be this foolish. To throw themselves into the abyss of their own accord.”

“They didn’t do it entirely on their own,” Eiwen remarked. “This happened because we controlled the hotels. They must have realized that no matter which inn they chose, they would still be under our watch. That’s why they went insane. They couldn’t do anything, so they must have gambled everything on Eslow’s mercy.”

“All without us lifting a finger. I’ve prepared for the tournament just in case, too. I had to squeeze out even more resources because Ultima pleaded that we needed more people.

Tsk

, what a waste.”

“Wait. Hold on. Are we sure this is good for us? We do want Sefira’s downfall, but we need it to happen on our terms. If Eslow crushes them personally, all their wealth will either be absorbed into the kingdom or taken by him.”

“Huh?!”

They all frowned. If that happened, it wouldn’t just waste years of careful scheming—it would be an unrecoverable financial disaster.

“This is no time to sit idly. We must ensure that Sefira doesn’t meet its end at the hands of Lord Eslow.”

“We need to send an emissary to the palace at once. We have to keep those Sefira fools alive.”

“Curse them. They always find a way to make things complicated.”

“Enough commotion,” Galahind interjected. “I will handle this myself.”

“Ooooh! If Marquess Galahind is personally stepping in, we can rest easy.”

Galahind smirked. No noble had ever been accepted as a guest in Eslow’s palace. But a brief visit was another matter entirely. And besides, he wasn’t just any noble; he was the wealthiest noble in the south.

Not even the lord can ignore the top sponsor of this tournament.

Thus, with the righteous facade of a savior, Galahind set out to “rescue” Sefira from the clutches of the ruthless Eslow.

* * *

Myle asked the butler leading them for his name, but instead of a proper response, the man merely pointed to the number embroidered on his shoulder.

Fifty-Two... Does he not have a name? Or is he simply more accustomed to being addressed by a number? No matter how many butlers a palace might have, was it truly right to reduce people to mere numbers?

Myle shook his head vigorously. It was a pointless thought. He pondered why he was even dwelling on it, and he came to the conclusion that it was because he was nervous. Everything felt unfamiliar, and nothing had gone as expected. And at the center of all this unpredictability was Keter.

I knew there was a high probability that all the hotels had been bribed. I even anticipated that we would have no choice but to stay in an inn. I was trying to think of ways to counter whatever schemes they had planned for us there... But never did I expect us to end up in the lord’s palace.

The fear of an unforeseen situation, the anxiety of being in completely uncharted territory—that was what was shaking him.

I can’t let this get to me. If I, the eldest and the leader of this group, falter, my younger siblings, Katherine, and even Keter won’t be able to focus on what they need to do.

Myle took a deep, silent breath. His surroundings, which had previously blurred into the background, finally came into focus.

There are weapons everywhere. It fits Lord Eslow’s title well.

Myle had already noticed it back in the office, but these weren’t just decorations or mere ornamental displays. Every single one was a masterpiece, sharp and ready for battle.

This entire palace feels like a massive armory.

Even if he kept his composure, the sheer lethality of the atmosphere weighed down on him. And the only person that could be unaffected by it all was...

...Keter.

Myle chuckled quietly. It was ridiculous how Keter could boldly dive headfirst into the most unthinkable situations as if they were nothing.

“We’ve arrived

Fifty-Two stopped in front of a garden. Surrounding the circular colonnade were three five-story mansions.

“This entire area will serve as your guest quarters. Please feel free to use any of the rooms. If you require anything, simply ask the servants or maids.”

“All of this is for us?” Myle asked, unable to hide his surprise.

The sheer scale of it all was staggering. Even if they had brought a hundred people, there would still be ample space. Even Myle, who had been born into the wealth and privilege of a noble bloodline, was left speechless.

“Yes. Additionally, you are free to explore the palace as you wish. However, there are four strict rules that even honored guests must adhere to.”

Fifty-Two enunciated clearly, as if to emphasize the importance of what he was about to say. Myle unconsciously straightened his posture.

“First, if you see a figure wearing a helmet in the corridors, you must turn around immediately and leave in the opposite direction. Second, if any of the weapons on display speak to you, do not respond under any circumstances. Three, if you find a silver coin on the ground, do not pick it up; simply walk away. Four—the most important rule—while the palace is thoroughly guarded, there exists one single place where there are no guards. Do not approach that area.”

A chill ran down Myle’s spine as he listened.

“...May I ask why?”

“I cannot say, nor will anyone else, no matter whom you ask. The rules I have given you are not to be spoken of to outsiders. Any accidents that occur due to ignoring or violating these rules will not be our responsibility.”

“...Understood.”

“As long as you follow these four rules, you may do as you please within the palace. Your safety is assured.”

The warnings didn’t sound like false stories meant to scare them. Yet, the rules weren’t particularly difficult to follow either. So, Myle managed to regain his composure.

“As for our accommodations, we have no need for multiple buildings. Sefira will only use the mansion directly in front of us.”

“Understood. Then, I shall guide you to the third floor. It offers an excellent view and has direct access to the training grounds via an elevator.”

“There’s a training ground here?”

“Yes. It’s located in the rear courtyard. Every type of weapon and armor is available for use. Additionally, you may request soldiers or knights as sparring partners. If you so desire, you may also use the servants or maids as target dummies.”

The butler’s expression remained perfectly neutral, as did the numerous maids and servants standing nearby.

It made Myle uncomfortable.

“...That will not be necessary.”

As the Order of the Galaxy arrived, Myle and his group finally felt at ease. With more people around, the eerie, doll-like atmosphere of the servants seemed slightly less suffocating.

After settling in and changing into more comfortable clothing, the group gathered to discuss their next course of action. Myle relayed the four strange warnings from Fifty-Two.

Katherine, always the first to break silence, shuddered slightly.

“That sounds... kind of creepy.”

Taragon nodded in agreement.

“Now that I think about it, the servants all seem... hollow. Like, are we sure they’re not Undeads?”

Even Anis, who usually remained composed, agreed. The unnatural atmosphere of the palace felt artificial and unsettling, to say the least.

Myle, as their leader, remained calm.

“Focus, everyone. Keter risked his life to get us this opportunity. We won’t waste it.”

At his words, the group straightened.

Anis and Taragon, who were actually competing in the tournament, immediately began preparing their bows and arrows.

“The butler mentioned that we could request knights for training. Should we ask them? I’m curious to see how the knights of the fief will fight against archery.”

“Yes. Since we’re entering the tournament, our archery techniques will be exposed anyway. And since they’re even willing to provide elixirs and potions, we have nothing to lose.”

Myle understood that nothing could be gained without sacrifice. If they were too focused on secrecy, they would only end up losing more.

With that, Anis and Tarragon left for the training grounds. Meanwhile, Myle and Katherine remained behind, waiting for Keter. Of course, they didn’t just sit idly by. Coincidentally, the two of them had something in common: unlike most archers of Sefira, both possessed unique abilities. Myle practiced ancient incantation, while Katherine had learned Magic Archery, an application of the embodiment system of magic that she had picked up from Keter.

Since Keter had given her permission to speak of it, Katherine shared what she had learned with Myle, prompting him to reveal his own studies in return.

“Wow... Incantation is incredible. A miracle that doesn’t rely on aura or mana but instead on sheer mental willpower? That’s amazing.”

Myle chuckled.

“And Magic Archery is equally impressive. Unlike conventional circle-based magic, it follows an entirely different school of thought—embodiment magic. Since the kingdom’s laws only forbid circle-based magic, your technique doesn’t even violate any royal decrees.”

Katherine was sociable, and Myle was open-minded. The two got along well, exchanging insights and assessing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Just as their conversation deepened, a knock came at the door. Myle assumed it was Fifty-Two and casually called out, “Come in.”

But the one who entered wasn’t the butler. It was Jeffrey Edmund, commander of the Twenty-Second Division of the Order of the Immortal Knights.

“Lord Myle, forgive my intrusion. I have something to ask.”

“Sir Jeffrey. I also have a question, so why don’t we answer each other? Where is my brother Keter, and when will he be returning?”

Jeffrey’s eyes widened slightly.

“That... is exactly what I came to ask you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Keter was being escorted back here... but midway, he knocked out his guards and vanished. As I expected, you did not know of it either.”

Myle’s mind went blank as he heard that Keter had disappeared.