Chapter 335: The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Ally (1)

Deyal, the Lord of the East. Appearance-wise, he looked no different from a middle-aged farmer, and he didn’t really have much character. If someone met him in a village, they would have just passed by, thinking he was a farmer and nothing more.

However, Eslow froze at his arrival. Even the recovery of his completely severed shoulder drastically slowed down.

In the meantime, Keter quietly took Eslow’s severed arm and retreaded backward.

Just then, Deyal called out, stopping Keter. “Where do you think you’re going?”

His gaze and sword still pointed at Eslow, but Keter felt as if the sword were pressed against his own neck.

Keter casually answered, “The washroom.”

“Please wait a moment. This will be over soon.”

Eslow smirked at Deyal’s words. “Over soon? Surely you’re not talking about me, Deyal. You lost all one hundred fights against me.”

Deyal calmly nodded. “Yes, I admit that. I fought you one hundred times and lost every time. But you already know, don’t you?”

A breeze blew, making Deyal’s tied hair slightly sway side to side. Right then, the tip of Deyal’s sword vanished, and Eslow’s right arm stretched out.

Watching all of this unfold, Henya’s gaze trembled. She could instinctively tell the two had clashed, but she couldn’t grasp the process or the result.

I thought I had overcome my limit too, but...

Henya believed she ranked among the upper tiers even by the world’s standards. However, that confidence shattered completely now.

As she realized that she had been a mere frog in a well, Keter stroked his chin.

So he really had gone easy on me in my past life.

Deyal’s thrust aimed for Eslow’s neck at an impossible angle. Eslow’s attempt to react and slash upward to intercept was impressive, but blood eventually gushed out from Eslow’s neck a moment later.

He was a second too late.

He was bleeding on a completely different scale than before. He hadn’t bled heavily with the wounds he suffered from Keter and his Demon Sword, yet now he poured blood out like a box with a hole on the bottom.

Eslow grabbed his neck and glared at Deyal as he asked, “Why are you helping Keter...?”

In a rebuking tone, Deyal answered, “I’m not helping Keter. You refused the royal command. Did you think you would remain safe after that?”

Eslow stayed silent.

“You rejected the order to subjugate the south for absurd reasons, and you didn‘t even respond to the command to return to the royal palace. Prince Rakan has become convinced you harbored ulterior motives.”

Faced with facts, Eslow couldn’t find words to say.

“The prince gave you many chances. Your answer was ignorance, which is clear treason. A kill order has been issued as a result.”

“So you waited for your chance like a sly dog.”

Despite Eslow’s harsh words, Deyal simply nodded in agreement.

“I had no way to win in your territory. At best, things would have ended in mutual destruction, so I just continued to wait for an opportunity...”

Deyal looked to Keter, who responded by waving Eslow’s severed arm he had just picked up in greeting.

“Honestly, I find it hard to believe that you lost to that young man.”

Eslow didn’t reply.

“You can’t even deny it. I was worried you might show an ugly side, but thank you for acknowledging it. Now then...”

Deyal gripped his sword with both hands and angled it.

Eslow sensed his end. If he were in normal condition, he could at least have avoided death. However, after dying once to Keter and reviving, his divine power had been significantly diminished. Being immortal was eternal. Yet, he wouldn’t be able to revive instantly as before, and someone like Deyal could kill him infinitely.

Eslow let out a deep breath and let his left arm hang. A dagger appeared in his hand. It would have been a great sword to an ordinary knight, but to Eslow, it was no more than a twig. Although he shouldn’t, regret began to creep in.

If only I still had my five main weapons...

Henya had taken them all. He had even given some away himself.

If only this were my territory... and even if it weren’t...

Eslow turned back to look at Keter.

As if waiting for it, Keter raised his middle finger.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

All of this was because of Keter. Henya’s trap hadn’t been a significant issue. It was Keter who created the current situation.

“So you called Deyal knowing you couldn’t beat me. Clever, yet foolish.”

Deyal was also Keter’s enemy. Would the man who executed Eslow simply let Keter walk away?

“Have you never heard the saying, the enemy of an enemy is an ally?”

“

Hah

. I wonder if that little trick will work with Deyal as well.”

Seeing no point in continuing the conversation, Eslow turned back to Deyal.

Just then, Keter shouted, “I think you don’t seem to understand. The enemy of my enemy is my ally!”

“Crazy bastard...” Eslow muttered in response.

He didn’t bother turning back to look at Keter, and launched himself toward Deyal, who had been waiting for him.

***

A fist-sized orb rested in Deyal’s hand. It was Eslow’s heart. After being killed so many times, the orb lay still. Deyal looked troublesome as he looked down at it. After letting out a short sigh, he put the orb into his pocket. Then, he turned his gaze to Keter.

Keter was somehow back in normal condition. Even his severed arm had reattached at some point.

Deyal pointed the tip of his sword at him. “Keter, you were placed on the execution list long before Eslow. I held back because I didn’t know how Eslow would react. I understand why you wanted him dealt with, but you made a mistake.”

Deyal had no intention of having a conversation with Keter. After delivering his notice, he immediately attempted to slash Keter’s neck.

This guy is more dangerous than Eslow.

Deyal may have been the one to finish Eslow, but the chain of events leading to that outcome ultimately came from Keter. That was what mattered.

However, Keter spoke faster than Deyal’s sword moved.

“If I block your strike, let me walk away.”

It was an absurd proposal. Yet Deyal couldn’t just dismiss it. In truth, he wanted to fight Keter once. He wanted to know how archery alone was enough to defeat Eslow, and the warrior in him was filled with curiosity.

However, he was here under the prince’s orders, and the prince had commanded that Keter be killed no matter what. He wanted to put up a proper fight against Keter, but taking the life of someone who was practically on death’s door didn’t sit well with him as a warrior.

The prince’s command matters... but so does a warrior’s pride.

If this had been Queen Lillian’s order, such thoughts would never have arisen. However, Deyal wasn’t truly loyal to the prince, so the temptation naturally came to surface. That was why Keter’s offer sounded so appealing, as blocking his strike should be impossible.

“You’re saying you’ll block my attack right now?”

“More precisely, let’s put it as if I survive. That’s better.”

“I’m not like Eslow. I don’t underestimate you. I’m rather wary of you. If you’re planning some foolish trick, stop.”

“The feeling’s mutual. You’re stronger and more troublesome than Eslow.”

Keter barely resisted adding that he had learned that the hard way in his past lif

e

, and instead began stretching.

“Thirty minutes. You can wait that long, right? As you can see, my body’s a wreck.”

“Giving you that much time makes me uneasy. I’ll give you five minutes.”

Keter continued to warm up with exaggerated sounds. It looked almost comical, but Deyal’s expression remained dead serious, and he never took his eyes off Keter. His gaze was filled with the intent to kill him immediately if he tried to play any tricks.

Just then, Henya staggered forward and called out, “Deyal...”

Without even turning his head, Deyal replied, “Stand back.”

“Thank you... We were able to survive thanks to your swordsmanship.”

Deyal had taught Henya and Wid a sword technique. It was just a single move taught in a short brief time, but without it, they never have been able to land a blow on Eslow.

Despite Deyal’s warning to stay back, Henya asked, “Did the prince order that I be killed as well?”

“He did not say that. However, if you oppose the royal family like Eslow, you will meet the same end.”

That was a warning to not help Keter.

“Do you truly believe the current royal family is normal? Something is clearly wrong. There’s no way you don’t see it...” Henya said.

“A swordsman handles only the sword. Moreover, I am one who has sworn loyalty to the Lillian family. There is nothing else for me to consider.”

“Then why are you sparing Keter? Why not kill him immediately under royal command?”

Deyal fell silent for a moment before answering Henya’s sharp question.

“That is merely a warrior’s curiosity. Can Keter really block my strike? There is no need to even consider that. It’s impossible. That’s why I want to see for myself, as Keter isn’t a man who speaks empty words.”

Keter blocking Deyal’s strike. Even Henya found that absurd. Even in perfect condition, it would be impossible, but right now he was in the worst possible state.

Deyal won’t go easy like Eslow did. He’ll attack with everything he has.

Henya knew how strong Keter was. He was the one who killed Eslow, after all. However, wasn’t that limited to archery?

I can’t even imagine how he would block Deyal’s strike.

Even if Keter could somehow use Milky Way, Good Night again, it wouldn’t work on Deyal.

Yet for some reason, Keter still looked confident. He had already shown dozens of miracles. Could he show another? Did he still have the strength left?

Henya stepped back. She worried about whether Wid and Ryse were still alive, but Keter said they were, so she trusted that. Right now, she needed to watch Keter. She could at least stand her ground and cheer him on.

“You have thirty seconds left, Keter.”

Deyal took his stance. A relaxed posture with his sword angled. The same stance he used to finish Eslow. Ultimate Nullification. It was the same technique that allowed Wid, who was weak and inexperienced with a sword, to wound Eslow.

In response, Keter casually chose his dinner menu.

“

Hm

, okay. Fried food for dinner.”

What in the world is he relying on...?

Keter didn’t even raise his bow, or prepare an arrow. He simply stood there. He wasn’t even looking at Deyal.

Thirty seconds were short, and time quickly went by as Henya watched nervously.

Right then, the sound of a gentle wave was heard, and the world had changed before Henya could even blink. Deyal and Keter had clearly been about thirty steps apart, yet now they were clashing. To be exact, Keter had charged into Deyal. Deyal’s sword slashed Keter’s shoulder and continued down to where his heart was. It was definitely a fatal wound.

The situation seemed like Keter’s defeat, yet Keter was smiling even as black blood spilled out of his mouth.

Something seems off...

In return, Deyal stared with widened eyes, wearing an expression of disbelief.