Chapter 156: What’s This Guy’s Deal Now? (2)

Everyone thought Norman was insane. A two-star knight defeating not one, but two four-star knights using only his ring finger? That wasn’t just crazy—that was completely unhinged. however...

“...”

“H-he really did it alone...!”

Norman kept his promise. Using only his ring finger, he brutally defeated all seventy-five other participants. He didn’t kill anyone, but he left their bodies savagely torn. He sliced their throats first, making sure no one could cry in surrender.

Drenched in blood from head to toe, Norman smiled and slowly raised his head, gazing up at the screen. Those who saw that smile shuddered and quickly looked away.

Keter had also shown overwhelming might, but the reaction to him had been entirely different. He had taken his opponents down cleanly, and there was at least a sense of charm,

But with Norman? There was nothing enjoyable about it. It was just a massacre; like watching a man step on ants, it was cruel, one-sided, and merciless.

The audience didn’t cheer. Instead, they cursed, turned away, and recoiled.

“Who is that lunatic?!”

“He ignored their surrender and kept attacking! How shameful!”

Though all participants except Norman were incapacitated, the match didn’t end immediately. In a rare move, the tournament officials intervened and placed him under arrest for investigation.

“We’ll confirm whether you’re really Norman and not some disguised substitute. Cooperate peacefully.”

No one had ever seen Keter before, so there was no one who knew him. His power was special, but he didn’t need to be investigated.

But Norman was different. He was known in society, and many knew him personally as well, all of whom said that he was not this cruel or powerful.

There had been a similar case in previous tournaments, such as an assassin who peeled a participant’s face off and competed in their place. Of course, that assassin back then wasn’t nearly as reckless as Norman, nor did he display such overwhelming strength, yet he had still been caught.

But Norman’s case was far more serious. He had acted brazenly suspicious from the very start. A formal inquiry was launched, and Norman was detained without resistance.

“I merely found enlightenment and grew stronger. I am innocent and will fully cooperate with the investigation.”

While the interrogators questioned Norman, others speculated about his origins.

“Who is Baron Shadabon? I’ve never heard of their family.”

“I know them. They usually handle supplies and logistics. They barely train any knights there.”

“I saw him in a tavern just two days ago. He wasn’t like this at all. What the hell happened?”

Though disguised by his brutality, it was clear that Norman’s abilities were those of a five-star Master. His swordsmanship to his aura control were on par with Henya and Pashian.

Meanwhile, Keter had his own suspicions about Norman’s identity.

Is that guy Phillip?

He remembered Phillip, the noble he had met on the top floor of the Red Siren casino with Ultima. Of course, Norman wasn’t Philip—they looked nothing alike. But at the same time... they were the same.

I didn’t think much of his habit of smiling without opening his mouth. But after he took down the last opponent, the right corner of his mouth twitched upward.

Phillip had made a strong impression on Keter, as he showed great interest in Ultima and seemingly controlled Aleron. As such, Keter had purposely remembered Phillip’s habits. And now, someone else was showing the exact same signs?

Non-human races can shapeshift into humans.

But even shapeshifting has limits. Even if they changed, there was a fixed form they could take. It wasn’t as if they could take on a new appearance every time they shapeshifted.

Plus, that guy surrendered himself too confidently, as if he had nothing to hide. It means he’s confident that he won’t get caught, even with the investigation. He has perfectly changed into Norman.

Changing one’s appearance was not enough, as that was possible with magic as well. That kind of perfection wasn’t possible with magic alone.

He must have all the information about Norman.

Keter crossed his legs.

Whether Phillip was his real name or not didn’t matter. Keter was now certain: Norman was Philip.

If he was the Doppelganger, he could have copied everything, including his personality.

However, the Doppelganger was a monster that lived in the Demon Capital. But it made no sense that it suddenly escaped.

No, he can’t be. The Doppelganger’s advantage is that it can copy everything, but that’s also its weakness. If it mimicked a two-star knight, it would be limited to that strength, but Norman showed strength far above that. He was a five-star that was close to a six-star. His understanding of swordsmanship and combat resembled that of a Grandmaster who had learned through real battles.

Keter smirked. When he first met Phillip, he just thought he was a non-human race who liked playing games.

Snap!

Keter snapped his fingers. He had figured everything out.

So that’s why Dopema, the ninth Sword of the South in my past life, is so weak now. It’s because Philip didn’t take his identity this time. He became Norman. So, why didn’t he choose Dopema, then? His name wasn’t on the betting sheet at the Red Siren, but Norman’s was. And I bet on everyone to lose. So why Norman in particular? Well, he was probably the easiest one to impersonate.

Keter didn’t care about the rest of the details.

For a moment, I thought he might be working with the empire, but no. He doesn’t act like one of them.

Keter couldn’t describe how people from the Samael Empire acted, but being flamboyant and grabbing everyone’s attention was not their style.

Just then, Taragon approached Keter.

“Keter, do you know Sir Norman?”

Hearing that, Myle and Anis perked up.

“Well, I guess I know him.”

“Who is he? Tell us.”

“I don’t know either.”

“But you just said you did!”

“I mean, I’ve seen him before, that’s all.”

Even Keter didn’t know Philip’s true identity.

Dork would know...

Keter’s knowledge was wide but shallow. Dork’s, however, was wide and deep. He could piece together things that Keter couldn’t.

I’ll have to bring him after the tournament. If he were here, he would probably already know.

Even if Dork didn’t know, he always figured things out, one way or another.

Just then, Myle sighed and muttered, “I thought Rajis was the only real threat in this tournament... but now we’ve got a new one. Someone mysterious. And he seems obsessed with you.”

To that, Keter just shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter who he is. We’re both in the same tournament, so we’ll face each other eventually. I’ll ask him then.”

Since they were both participants in the same tournament, they were bound to meet. Keter didn’t particularly care to know the opponent’s identity in advance, as he would meet them eventually anyway.

* * *

The battle royale, the first match of the tournament to determine the Sword of the South, had finally come to an end. Groups A and B both ended with unexpected results for the spectators. The same was true for Group C, but the atmosphere was different.

Norman was not disqualified. He had proven that he was, in fact, the real Norman. He wasn’t a fake with a different face, nor a non-human who had merely mimicked his appearance. He was the genuine Norman, without a doubt. His family and friends confirmed this.

“He knows my secrets that only the real Norman could know. The vibe is completely different now... but it’s definitely him.”

Key witnesses testified that he was the real Norman, and there was no evidence to suggest otherwise.

The tournament officials interrogated Norman one last time.

“How did you become so strong in such a short period of time?”

Norman’s response was aggravating.

“I simply reached enlightenment.”

“...”

Saying that one became stronger through enlightenment was a catch-all excuse among warriors, but it was often true. The officials couldn’t press him further, but they did issue a stern warning.

“If you exhibit any inappropriate behavior in the next match, you will be disqualified.”

“That’s strange. Didn’t Lord Keter also behave inappropriately? He struck down an opponent who had already lost the will to fight, reducing him to a wreck. I only did the same.”

“That’s childish. If you must compare, Lord Keter showed mercy. No one suffered fatal injuries. But you went so far that even an elixir couldn’t heal your opponent.”

“Oh, is that so? I didn’t know. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“That arrogant tone—if you act up again, you’ll be disqualified on the spot.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Thus, Group C’s battle royale officially concluded with Norman earning seven points alone.

A tournament official appeared on the screen and announced the next stage.

“The second event, the team tournament, will be held one week from now. Teams will be assigned randomly and revealed on the day of, along with the match brackets.”

The participants were given a one-week grace period. It was time to prepare for the team tournament, a completely different style of battle. For the audience, it was also a chance to explore the city and build anticipation.

During this week, most contestants prepared rigorously for the upcoming team competition, keeping in mind the archers from Sefira, the newly emerged dark horses, as well as Henya and Norman. With the arrival of unexpected strength and wild cards, the week felt painfully short for those serious about the tournament.

Unlike the battle royale, where individuals fought alone on a vast, uninhabited island, the team tournament required fighters to cooperate in a confined space with unfamiliar teammates. There were many unpredictable variables, such as being teamed up with someone they disliked, or worse, a member of a rival family. All of that would affect the team morale.

Of course, the goal wasn’t just to test teamwork. Leadership and charisma were also part of the evaluation. And ultimately, winning as a team mattered most.

So, what was Sefira doing to prepare for this unpredictable team tournament?

“Myle, are we really leaving the palace?”

“Yes. We can’t hide under His Grace’s protection forever.”

As soon as Myle returned to the palace, he declared that they would be leaving.

“Thanks to your strong performances in the first match, the name Sefira has become known far and wide. Yes, some harbor ill will, but far more people are curious about us. This is clearly an opportunity.”

As he spoke, Myle glanced at Keter, gauging his reaction. Though he would push ahead regardless of opposition, Keter’s disapproval still weighed on him.

But Keter, yawning, replied, “Why do you care so much about what I think, Big Brother?”

“Oh, no... I was looking at Dame Katherine behind you.”

Suddenly called out, Katherine pointed at herself, startled, then walked over.

“You called, my lord?”

“Um, yes. Please double-check with Sir Didos to make sure we’re not leaving anything behind.”

“Understood.”

Katherine’s cheerful answer lightened the mood. Myle paused, then continued.

“I’ve already arranged our lodging. We’re going to the Tremond Hotel.”

The Tremond Hotel was a luxurious hotel second to the prestigious Feathers Hotel. However, it was the same place that had previously turned Sefira’s group away.

Before anyone could ask, Myle explained the situation.

“Before Group C’s match began, we had three days. During that time, I met with the general manager of Tremond Hotel and made a proposal. I told him I would overlook the insult we received last time if they now offer us rooms.”

Anis flinched, and he looked frustrated.

Myle looked at him and said, “You’re not pleased that I approached the hotel that once slighted us, are you?”

“...”

“Anis. I was just as upset. My chest felt like it would burst from the pain. You must have felt the same. But just waiting for the other side to admit fault and apologize—that’s a foolish thing.”

“...!”

“If we offer the chance to apologize first, the other party can do so without shame. Must we treat someone as a permanent enemy just because they once wronged us? Are we to stand tall and wait for others to grovel simply to preserve pride? Is that the Sefira way?”

“No, Myle.”

“No, it isn’t,” added Taragon, who hadn’t been part of the conversation.

Myle could have raised his voice in emotion, but he continued calmly.

“The Sefira that was scorned is in the past; that is not who we are now. Only by seeing ourselves this way can other nobles start seeing us differently too. That’s why I made the first move—to give them a chance to change their minds, now that Sefira’s standing has changed.”

When he finished, Anis knelt and said, “I was short-sighted. I thought pride alone could protect our family.”

Taragon, who had trusted Myle from the start, also knelt with the flow of the moment.

Myle chuckled then helped both of them up.

“The general manager of Tremond Hotel even thanked me for making the first move. As an apology, they’ve offered us all the luxury suites on the top floor for free, for the entire tournament.”

“There are still three weeks left in the tournament, and all of it is free? That’s more than enough to forgive them!”

“With the top floor reserved, even other nobles won’t be able to pull strings.”

“Shall we eat lunch at the hotel? All together!”

As the three Sefira brothers laughed together in joy, Katherine and the Galaxy Knights smiled warmly.

Watching them from the side, Keter smiled slightly and muttered, “Looks good.”

* * *

When the entire Sefira palace left the palace, Eslow did not come out to see them off. Myle didn’t feel disappointed. In fact, he was relieved—grateful, even—that Eslow didn’t try to stop them. And so, calmly and steadily, they rode their carriage toward the Tremond Hotel.

“Lord Myle, there’s a crowd up ahead. It looks like they’re waiting for our carriage,” reported Didos, who was riding up front in the driver’s seat.

Looking serious, Myle muttered, “Don’t tell me... Have they gathered soldiers to attack us here on a public street?”

Didos, flustered by the gravity of Myle’s concern, quickly clarified, “That’s not what I meant, sir. Those are women wearing flower crowns, so there’s no danger.”

“Women with flower crowns? Why would they be waiting for us?”

“It’s a traditional custom of commoners. They’re courting the nobles.”

“Courting...? Us?”

“Yes, though not as wives but concubines. For reference, women wearing flower crowns made of forget-me-nots are expressing a wish to spend even just one night together.”

Myle understood Didos’ succinct explanation, but also didn’t understand it at all.

“This is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this. It’s... disorienting.”

“It’s quite common for other nobles. You will all need to get used to this, my lords.”

“Hm...”

As Myle debated whether to stop the carriage, the women came into view. Then, they soon surrounded them.

“It’s getting noisy out there. What’s going on?”

“What’s all that squealing?”

Anis and Taragon stuck their heads out the window, which made the women scream even louder.

“Huh?!”

“Who are these women?!”

Anis and Taragon were stunned. Wondering if these were assassins sent by rival nobles, they instinctively reached for their arrows. Like Myle, the two brothers had never experienced this sort of custom before.

“Sir Didos, we can’t just ignore the women who waited for us. Handle them appropriately. I’ll be heading inside the carriage.”

Anticipating a headache, Myle retreated into the carriage.

The women, too, had been taught traditions passed down through generations, from history and from their mothers. One such custom was not to block the path of a noble's carriage. Even if the nobles weren’t interested in the women, the women would still offer them prayers for good fortune, in gratitude for their time.

While the other two brothers showed no interest in the crowd, Taragon stared at them dazedly, occasionally waving back.

Seeing this, Myle clicked his tongue.

“Close the window, Taragon. This isn’t the time to be distracted by women.”

“Ah, right. Okay.”

“I’m not saying you have to stay chaste. Just wait until the tournament is over.”

“Yes, Myle. Of course...”

Taragon understood, but couldn’t fully hide his disappointment. It was natural, as Taragon was at the peak of his sexual urges. His reaction was completely normal; it was just that Myle and Anis were indifferent because physical desire was at the very bottom for them.

“Come to think of it, Keter, you really don’t seem interested in women. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you react to them.”

Myle addressed Keter, who hadn’t even glanced out the window. Katherine nodded emphatically, as if deeply agreeing.

“You said you’re eighteen, right? Just wondering... Are you a virgin?”

At Myle’s ambush of a question, everyone’s ears perked up.

Of course, being from the Lawless City, no one really believed Keter could be a virgin. Judging by his looks and personality, he was more likely to have indulged his desires than to have restrained them. But they also thought that he could be a virgin precisely because of that.

The Sefira brothers watched him with anticipation, wondering if that proud, confident Keter would suddenly blush, get flustered, or try to dodge the question.

But Keter, lying nonchalantly inside the carriage, replied, “I’m married.”