Chapter 161: I’ll Never Give My Heart (3)

For commoners, a rich person was someone who owned one thousand gold. To the middle class, it took ten times that—ten thousand gold—to be considered wealthy. To the upper class, ten times again—one hundred thousand gold—was what it took to truly be called rich.

In truth, even ten thousand gold was enough for a family of four to live comfortably for the rest of their lives in a small kingdom. With one hundred thousand gold, even their descendants’ descendants could live in luxury within the Samael Empire.

But what about one million gold? At that point, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say it could change the fate of an entire noble family. Money bred money; unless they wasted it like a fool, made reckless investments, or suffered from a catastrophic disaster, just sitting on that fortune was enough to support countless future generations.

If just a million gold can do that...

Kai looked at the check closer and examined it from various angles. No matter how many times he checked, it was a genuine blank check issued by Infinite Bank. Just owning such a check was already proof of holding assets over a million gold.

But the number written on this check was six million gold. It was enough to fund a major merchant guild, and enough to establish six small noble families.

“Keter, do you really have this kind of money?”

Kai couldn’t believe it. Keter looked like a young man who looked to be in his early twenties at most. Of course, a high noble, especially one from a master family, could boast of having five million gold, but only in total assets; a high noble’s total wealth could exceed tens of millions of gold if accounting for real estate, buildings, and intangible assets.

But a noble that could instantly withdraw five million gold in cash? There would maybe be ten of them across all of Lillian Kingdom.

When Kai asked if he truly possessed six million gold, Keter nodded with a satisfied smile.

“It’s not every day you see wealth that surprises a spy from the empire.”

Keter’s smugness made Kai genuinely wonder something.

“Even if this check is real, why offer a million more?”

“Because it’s not that cheap.”

“...What?”

“How much do you think it costs to create a person?”

“If you mean human transmutation, it would take tens of millions of gold... Ahem.”

Kai caught himself mid-sentence, stunned.

Why am I having such a normal conversation with this lunatic?

He was confused.

Was conversation always this... easy?

To someone like Kai, who was used to calculated and strategic dialogue, Keter’s rambling chatter felt like a shock, if not downright refreshing.

Even though the conversation had veered off-track, Keter continued as if nothing had happened.

“Master Franken used to say that even with hundreds of millions of gold, you cannot create a complete human. But he was wrong. You don’t even need that much. All you need is...”

Kai desperately wanted him to finish that sentence, but Keter didn’t. It made him frustrated but curious.

Franken is the chimeric mage and the leader of the Gray Tower, right? Why did you deny what he said? Please tell me right now.

Kai waited, but Keter just stared at him silently, which was clearly deliberate.

“...What do you need?”

Keter smiled. He had gotten the response he wanted.

“Just a piece of bread.”

“...A piece of... bread?”

Kai processed the word in his mind and imagined the concept of bread in his mind. It was a food—a staple made by mixing flour and water and baking or steaming it. It was usually a food eaten by commoners, but it could become a delicacy for nobles in the hands of a master baker.

But the bread Keter explained was not what Kai expected.

“All you need is bread the size of a kid’s fist. It’s hard as a rock, and you have to melt it in your mouth with saliva, but that makes it last longer. It’s fun, and it makes you feel fuller.”

“What... are you talking about?”

“If a man gives a woman even that tiny, hard piece of bread, she can bear a child. That’s how it worked in my world.”

“Talking about Liqueur?”

“Yeah. So if someone born that way were sold for money, how much would they go for?”

Kai didn’t understand why the story was dragging on like this. But strangely, he wasn’t bored or irritated. If anything, he was curious—he wanted to know where Keter was going with this.

“It depends. You would have to evaluate the parents’ talents, the child’s appearance, physique, mana affinity... There are many factors,” Kai explained.

“The kid was scrawny, like a sick chicken. It took him forever to open his eyes, and even longer to learn to walk. He cried nonstop and had no patience.”

“...Sounds useless.”

“He was. He was useless, so his parents abandoned him. He still couldn’t speak properly by age six.”

“In that condition, his value would be a single gold coin, perhaps as a subject for human experimentation.”

“He would’ve been happy to hear that because nobody wanted to buy him. He wasn’t even sold for a single silver coin; he was just left on the street.”

“Tragic.”

“No. He was lucky because he met me.”

“Someone you’re connected to?”

“My subordinate. He calls himself Daat, but I call him Dork. It doesn’t suit him, but it stuck.”

“Why did you make him your subordinate? From your story, he not only has a disability but is an idiot.”

“He was. But now? He’s the most capable, intelligent, and trustworthy person I know.”

Kai was speechless.

All this... just to brag about this Dork? I’m envious.

He didn’t even know who Daat was, but Kai wanted to meet him. He wondered how someone who was born an idiot could be recognized and trusted by an arrogant lunatic like Keter.

“So what’s your point? That a person’s value can’t be known?”

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

“Ah, right. That was what I was talking about.”

“...”

“Not that it can’t be known, but just that I can see it. This one is definitely going to entertain me.”

Ever since he started living on his own at age seven, Keter had a habit of picking up things that were thrown away. Most eventually left him, but some stayed, like Dork, Gyro, and others. Some became friends with him, and he actually married a few of the women. One thing for certain was that Keter never picked up things for their usefulness. It was out of curiosity or a hobby, nothing more.

Still, young Keter was often disappointed. Many he helped repaid him with theft or betrayal. He learned early that goodwill wasn’t always returned and that not everything he wanted to keep by his side could be kept. So, he made a vow.

No matter what happens, I’ll never give my heart. It’s only for fun, nothing more.

Kai didn’t know Keter’s past or thoughts, but he could feel the sincerity behind his words.

“I’ll ask one last time. You’re really willing to spend six million gold on a dying artificial lifeform? That money could be used for Sefira, or to buy elixirs or artifacts. There are countless other uses.”

“Yes.”

“There are dozens more like this Homunculus. It is not one of a kind.”

“Doesn’t matter. He only needs to be special to me.”

“If you possess a Homunculus, you’ll be monitored by the empire.”

“Great. More spectators for my performance.”

“...So my questions were pointless.”

This wasn’t blind courage or ignorance. Keter understood everything and still chose to take the Homunculus. Kai accepted that. However, he still needed a justification. Selling a Homunculus was a serious offense. The imperial leadership would never approve.

I’ll have to make up a reason.

To join the Special Task Force, simply being a genius wasn’t enough; one needed to be a genius in every field.

“Keter. I can’t sell or transfer a Homunculus to you. However...”

Kai approached Unit Three and placed a hand on its forehead.

“Unit Three of Eden. By the authority of Kai of the Special Task Force, your new purpose is not combat but surveillance. The target is Keter. Remain by his side and record everything.”

“Order received, Master.”

“This mission is classified at the highest security. Reject all interference or commands from other officials.”

“Understood.”

“If Keter breaks our confidentiality agreement, or even shows signs of doing so, immediately signal the Special Task Force.

“Directive acknowledged.”

Kai removed his hand and looked at Keter.

No need to ask if he still wants it.

As expected, Keter immediately grabbed Unit Three’s hand and slung him over his shoulder.

“Just don’t say always. I need my solitude sometimes.”

“That’s for Unit Three to decide.”

“Input received,” replied Unit Three.

Kai stretched his neck and back. He had never felt this exhausted in his life, despite not having fought at all.

“Leaving already?”

Keter sounded like a lifelong friend. Kai hesitated briefly, then left without a word.

* * *

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

Keter didn’t leave the scene. It was because of Jeffrey, who remained standing there, motionless like a broken doll.

“I guess it would be more terrifying if his head regrew and he was acting fine.”

Keter poked Jeffrey’s cheek. It definitely felt like the flesh of the living.

“Hey, Jeffrey.”

“What is it?”

“Whoa, you snapped out of it?”

“I’m back.”

“That’s weird. Why are you staring like that?”

This time, Jeffrey didn’t answer. Keter recalled how he had obeyed his command and stopped fighting.

“Wait... are you in some kind of haze right now? Is that why you’re only reacting to my voice?”

“Correct.”

“Really? Is that so? Hehehe.”

Even though it was technically Jeffrey’s choice, Keter had coaxed him into fighting a Homunculus, a monster, and even losing his head in the process. Most people would have felt pity or guilt, but Keter just grinned like a mischievous kid.

“That insane regeneration you showed in battle... Is that a special ability?”

“No. It is a blessing granted to our Immortal Knights.”

“A blessing? As in, Eslow is protecting you?”

“No. It is a blessing tied to the very name ‘Immortal Knights.’ It is a will engraved in centuries of history, battles, and the world. If we Immortal Knights truly believe in it, we receive the Blessing of Immortality.”

“So every Immortal Knight can survive even if their head gets cut off?”

“Not necessarily. Regeneration rate and extent depend on one’s faith. Those with weak conviction may only regenerate a finger.”

“Hm... So in short, this blessing is like a special ability imbued in the name itself.”

“Correct.”

Keter had always prided himself on knowing most of the world’s secrets, but now he had learned something new.

Interesting. Very interesting. A special ability that resides in the name itself? So naming things really is important. Could something like that be attached to Sefira’s Galaxy Knights?

Keter doubted it.

Order of the Galaxy sounds cool, but how do you even interpret “Galaxy” in a way that gives it a special ability? By contrast, Immortal Knights has a clear meaning and intent. I’ll have to remember this for later.

Whether or not he would ever create his own group or organization, Keter made a point of filing away any useful information.

“Mmm...”

At that moment, Jeffrey, who had been stiff as a rock, began to sway. It was obvious he was finally regaining his full consciousness. Keter realized there was time for just one last question.

As someone close to Eslow, Jeffrey no doubt had access to highly classified information. And in this half-haze state, he was answering everything without hesitation. Keter might be able to extract something crucial, such as Eslow’s weakness.

Without hesitation, Keter fired off his final question.

“Tell me about your first love.”

“The first time I met her was...”

And so, the story of Jeffrey’s first love—something he had sworn to take to the grave—was finally told to the world.

* * *

After returning to the Tremond Hotel, where the rest of the group was staying, Keter was immediately interrogated.

“Keter... I can’t believe you actually went as far as kidnapping. Who is that kid?!” scolded Taragon, pointing at Homunculus Unit Three.

With a straight face, Keter answered, “He’s my secret child.”

“What?! Why are you only bringing him here now?!”

Thunk!

As Taragon reacted like he genuinely believed him, Anis smacked him on the head.

“The hair and eye color are completely different. And... is he even human, Keter?”

Keter, who had exceptional insight and had seen many bizarre things, immediately recognized that the Homunculus wasn’t human. But for anyone else, it was nearly impossible to tell.

Even now, if it weren’t for Unit Three’s stiff movements due to its damaged core, anyone would have assumed it was just a human boy. Its skin texture, body temperature, the feel of his hair—all were indistinguishable from a human’s. It even produced saliva and breathed. Physically, it appeared completely human.

Of course, upon closer examination, the differences became clear. It had no pulse, didn’t blink, and lacked the natural scent of human skin.

“He seems human... but also not,” Katherine said as she tended Unit Three, who was completely still.

Myle sighed.

“Keter. What’s going on? You need to explain so we can understand.”

“I can’t explain. There’s a confidentiality pact.”

“Then just tell us one thing. Is it dangerous?”

“Probably not?”

“That’s a wonderfully reassuring answer.”

“Don’t worry, Big Brother. He’s not dangerous. Hmm...” Keter paused, scratching his cheek, then added, “Probably.”

“Fine. But we can’t let someone whose identity we don’t even know stay in the same room as us. There’s a vacant room next door. He’ll be moved there. I hope you understand.”

“That’s fine. Do whatever you want, Big Brother.”

Myle shook his head and turned to the boy Keter had brought.

“What’s this boy’s name?”

“Name?”

At the mention of a name, even the seemingly lifeless Unit Three slightly lifted his head in response. It didn’t have a name. Keter would have to give him one.

Sky-blue hair... So, maybe Bluey? No, wait.

Keter had just learned from the Immortal Knights how powerful a name could be. He decided to put a little more effort into it this time. Not too much effort, of course—just something that sounded decent.

“Decameron.”

Standing from his chair, Keter looked down at Unit Three and repeated it once more.

“Your name from now on is Decameron.”