Chapter 17: Battle on a Bridge (3)

Keter was at the Second Shooting Range. He held Amaranth, the Bow of the Night, and repeatedly pulled and released the bowstring. There were numerous targets in front of him, but there was nothing hitting the targets, as Keter was pulling the string without an arrow.

Then, suddenly, Keter threw Amaranth on the ground.

“Damn it, the balance is all messed up!”

Amaranth quivered on the ground as if in protest and expressed its thoughts.

[I was never designed to use regular arrows. My body is optimized for my own Demon Arrows. Are you not going to use them?]

“Why wouldn't I use them? But I’m going to use regular arrows a lot more.”

[Even so, why are you judging me without even shooting an arrow?]

“I can picture it all in my head just by pulling the string—the trajectory and speed of the arrow.”

[That’s ridiculous. Are you saying you’re some kind of divine archer?]

“Anyway, can’t you change your body or something?”

[It might be possible if you offer ten years of your life.]

“Forget it. For now, you’re just an extremely sturdy bow that’s easy to store.”

Those characteristics alone made Amaranth worthy of being called a treasure, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy Keter, who had used numerous artifacts before.

Keter extended his hand toward Amaranth. Then, it was magically sucked back into his hand. It was the recall function, which was standard on most artifacts. Keter had only come to test Amaranth’s performance, which he had done enough of, so there was nothing more for him to do here.

“One, two, one, two!”

That was when Keter saw a group of soldiers running toward the shooting range from afar. He could have ignored them and walked away, but Keter, from his long experience, knew this wasn’t a coincidence.

They’re coming here knowing that I’m here.

Keter had already figured out that he was being watched by the people around him. In fact, the people observing him were almost blatantly watching. The reason he was leaving them alone was not only because the Sefira family had the right to watch him, but also because he preferred it that way.

Keep your eyes wide open and see what kind of person I am.

The ones headed toward Keter were clearly enemies; what ally with goodwill would want to have a conversation on this dirt ground?

Keter was always willing to confront any incoming enemy, so he waited for them to approach.

I shouldn’t even call the soldiers coming right now enemies. A confrontation? It’s not even that. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it a joke.

Keter showed no mercy to his enemies in Liqueur, but...

Be grateful that you’re family.

Looking ahead, they were going to become part of his forces in the future. So, Keter was willing to be lenient. Of course, he would also show them that he was ruthless if they crossed the line.

Keter rested Amaranth on his shoulder and waited for the soldiers to arrive. Soon after, they came up the hill.

Hm?

Keter squinted as he watched the soldiers come up the hill, as a woman was leading the group. From her strong physique and energy, she was undoubtedly a knight, but...

Did the Sefira family have a female knight?

Keter’s memory was exceptional, so much so that he could clearly recall what he ate and how it tasted on his third birthday. However, it was only today that he learned there was a female knight in the Sefira family.

It’s impossible that I never encountered her in my previous life... Oh, maybe it’s because of that?

Keter had a hunch as to why there was no record of a female knight in his memory. Soon, the group led by the female knight also spotted Keter and stopped in front of him.

In a loud voice, the female knight shouted, “Attention!”

At the female knight’s command, the soldiers promptly stood at attention in two orderly rows. The female knight stepped forward.

“Excuse me. Are you Lord Keter?” Katherine asked in a bouncy voice, contrary to her appearance.

Though her tone conveyed friendliness rather than hostility, Keter was indifferent.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

“Your affiliation and name.”

“Pardon?”

“If you’re going to ask someone else’s identity, you should introduce yourself first.”

Katherine, who had come to find Keter with her soldiers, remained silent for a moment and looked at Keter. He was completely different from what she had imagined. He had muscles more defined than any knight in Sefira, and there was no hint of vulnerability, even in a relaxed stance. Moreover, the aura of composure and confidence Keter exuded was something Katherine had never experienced before.

Katherine then formally introduced herself with respect.

“I am Dame Katherine, Lieutenant Commander of the Seventeenth Division of the Order of the Stars.”

“Katherine...”

Keter repeated the name once. No matter how hard he thought about it, he had never heard of it before. However, he had a hunch as to why he had never heard of her name before.

In his previous life, there was an incident where a knight died during a mission shortly after he joined the Sefira family. He remembered there was an elder who was unusually sadder than others.

“What is your relationship with Elder Panir?” Keter asked nonchalantly.

Katherine blinked.

Why is he suddenly asking about my relationship with Elder Panir?

Katherine could have easily responded the wrong way to this surprise question, but she responded as if it were nothing.

“Elder Panir is the one who gave me the opportunity to become a knight.”

“So, do you pledge your loyalty to Elder Panir rather than the Sefira family?” Keter asked.

“I don’t know how those two are different, my lord. To me, it is the same thing.”

Hearing Katherine, Keter stroked his chin.

She doesn’t really fit the Sefira family.

It was clear at first glance; Katherine was the complete opposite of the Sefira family, who were dull and taciturn.

“So, why did you come to see me?” Keter asked.

Naive people started with lies. Katherine, on the other hand, didn’t even blink an eye.

“I came to offer you some advice, Lord Keter,” she said.

“My popularity never seems to go down. The date requests are never ending.”

Despite Keter’s nonsense, Katherine shook her head and said, “Please behave yourself and stay quiet. That’s my advice.”

“You want a quiet date?”

“I suppose that would be possible if you behave.”

“Did Panir tell you to do this?”

“Please answer. If you promise to behave, I'll leave.”

Katherine stood her ground, and Keter cut straight to the point as well.

“What if I say no?” he said.

Keter already knew how Katherine was going to respond. He had seen people like her before, and people like her liked things that were fair.

“I will challenge you to a duel.” Katherine said.

She acted just as Keter had anticipated.

Fools like her are easy to handle. She’s just like Taragon.

She had a similar yet different kind of foolishness compared to Taragon. Taragon was a true fool who spoke without thinking. Katherine, despite her frivolous tone, wasn’t careless in her actions—she was a fool pretending to be foolish because she didn’t know she was one.

I think I know why she died.

Katherine probably had a good influence on the Sefira family—too good an influence. That’s why she was killed before anyone else.

“A duel, huh? Do you think I’ll go easy on you because you’re a woman? I’m thinking of stripping you of your dignity,” Keter said.

“I don’t care how you treat me. However, I won’t engage in physical combat with you. I’m a knight of Sefira; I cannot harm a member of the Sefira family,” Katherine replied.

“That’s strange...”

“Will you accept the duel? If not, please behave for the sake of the Sefira family.”

“Do you know what a hummingbird is? If it stays still, it dies. That’s what I’m like. Telling me to stay put is the same thing as telling me to die.”

Katherine didn’t know what that was, but she understood what Keter was trying to say.

“Then I will challenge you to a duel, my lord. If I win, you must behave yourself, even if it feels like you’re going to die.”

“You’re lucky, you know. I accept all challenges that come my way, but it’s not for free. There has to be a reward for me to participate.”

Then, Keter pointed at Katherine.

“If I win, you’re mine.”

“...!”

The soldiers, who had followed Katherine without any idea why, were surprised at what Keter said. Although Keter had worded it indirectly, it was clear he intended to make Katherine his slave.

That was when Keter drove it home; he made sure there was no misunderstanding.

“Do you not understand what I’m saying? If I win, you become my slave who must absolutely obey me.”

Even if Katherine was a knight, she was still a woman, and to tell a woman to become a slave... It would be natural for her to feel humiliation and anger, yet she just nodded.

“You could have refused my challenge, but you’ve accepted it. So, I will gladly accept the terms as well,” she said.

Keter could have ignored Katherine’s request for a duel. That would only have made things difficult for her but wouldn’t harm Keter at all. Of course, Katherine had a plan for if Keter refused.

She turned to her soldiers and said, “You all heard the conversation between Lord Keter and me, right?”

The soldiers weren’t stupid, so they already understood the situation.

“Yes!”

“Now I will duel with Lord Keter. I want you to be witnesses.”

Then, Katherine turned to Keter.

“Lord Keter, will you promise on the terms we just discussed by making a vow in front of the soldiers? Of course, I will also make a vow.”

A vow: it was a sacred and noble ritual. If one failed to keep it, they had to either atone with death or live a life more disgraceful than death. As such, making a vow should not be taken lightly. Yet, Keter placed his right hand on his chest without hesitation.

“I swear on my heart and Sefira eyes that if I lose the duel, I will leave the Sefira family entirely,” Keter said.

“There’s no need for you to leave. Please take that back,” Katherine said.

“It’s my choice. Hurry up and make your vow before the sun sets.”

Katherine placed her right hand below her chest and said, “I swear by my knightly conviction and loyalty to Sefira and Queen Lillian that if I lose the duel with Lord Keter, I will become his slave.”

The soldiers clearly heard both of their vows. They felt uneasy. They had heard rumors about Keter, the one who defeated Anis. Even though Anis was in poor condition at the time, it was still notable. While Katherine was a two-star knight compared to Anis, who was only a one-star knight, nothing was certain—a battle’s outcome wasn’t decided by sheer strength alone.

The soldiers, of course, trusted Katherine, their superior. They knew she was not only an excellent leader but also strong in battle. However, that didn’t assure them she could definitely defeat Keter. Their unease was so strong that even Keter and Katherine could feel it

“Then, let me explain the Battle on a Bridge duel to you, my lord.”

The soldiers’ faces brightened when they heard Katherine. She had proposed a duel but hadn’t specified the type, which she was choosing now.

In this duel type, she can win against Anis and Keter!

Katherine was on a winning streak—she had never lost a Battle on a Bridge duel to anyone except for captains.