Chapter 54: Call Me The Archery Genius (4)

Keter returned to Hacose Village. There was something he needed to confirm before heading back.

“Lord Keter.”

As Keter was heading to the village hall, a man blocked his path. Out of nowhere, the man held out a small metallic cube and a rod.

“I didn’t think it was right to leave without showing my gratitude, so I stayed behind to give you this.”

The man was one of the members of the Flying Wolf Tribe.

“What is this?” Keter asked.

“It’s a weapon and armor crafted with the Flying Wolf Tribe’s metallurgy. It contains the essence of shape-memory alloy techniques. Please deliver it to Lord Reganon.”

“Do you know how to make shape-memory alloy? That would be more helpful.”

“I apologize. Our group consists only of warriors, so we don’t know anything about metallurgy.”

“I see. You can go.”

“Yes, sir.”

The man disappeared from sight. Luke approached and poked at the metal rod and cube with his finger.

“Keter, did I hear that right? He said this is a weapon and armor. How does something this small turn into a weapon or armor?”

“You just need to inject aura into it.”

When Keter infused the rod with aura, it instantly transformed into a sword. The rod, which was the size of his finger, extended into a two-meter-long longsword. Although it was too large for a human to wield, it was just the right size for a werewolf to use as a longsword.

“Whoa, that scared me! How do you turn it back? Do you use aura for that too?” Luke asked.

“No, you fold it with brute force.”

“Fold it... with brute force?”

Keter showed Luke how since it wasn’t practical to carry around a two-meter longsword anyway. He placed the tip of the sword on the ground and pressed down on the hilt. The muscles in Keter’s arm bulged as he pressed down on the sword. it cracked and crunched as the blade began to compress. As he continued to compress it, the entire blade compacted into the handle and the remaining side parts curled inward, returning to its original rod shape.

As it was designed as a weapon for werewolves, only someone with their level of strength could re-compress it. In other words, Keter's strength was at least on par with that of a werewolf.

So this technique belonged to the Flying Wolf Tribe...

Keter had seen these portable weapons and armor before in the Liqueur. Even in the empire, these compressible weapons were used exclusively by high-level officers. He now realized that the base technology for these items was the shape-memory alloy metallurgy of the Flying Wolf Tribe. This was only produced in the empire, so no one had ever figured out the secret of this technology. However, Keter discovered the secret so easily, and it was even in his hands now.

The saying that great opportunity lies in the midst of every crisis really is true.

If he could create a bow or arrows using the shape-memory alloy metallurgy, the possibilities would be endless.

Grandpa Volkanus is going to flip out.

People say that dwarves would risk even their lives for new techniques. Keter couldn't help but be curious about how Volkanus would react to this shape-memory alloy.

But handing it over in this state would be meaningless. The Flying Wolf Tribe's weapons were relics of the past. They would need to compare this compressible longsword with the empire's improved version of portable weapons, which had been enhanced for combat practicality, to fully grasp the production method.

"Now I have another reason to return to Liqueur."

"What did you say, Keter?" Luke asked.

"I said this is exciting. Don't you agree?"

“Huh? Um..."

Even after the battle, Luke hadn’t fully regained his composure. He was dealing with an identity crisis.

Who

am I, and why do I have these kinds of abilities?

It's good that the curse is broken, but what should I do next?

Troubling, yet somewhat trivial concerns filled Luke’s head.

Keter didn't bother to interfere with Luke’s contemplation as he couldn’t care less.

When Keter reached the village hall, Keter knocked on the door.

“Chief! Open up, unless you want to die.”

There was no sound.

Keter rubbed his forehead.

“I was trying to be polite.”

He broke the locked handle with sheer strength and entered the village hall.

“I know you’re in there. Come out in three seconds. If I have to find you myself, there’s going to be a funeral today.”

“I-I’m here! I was just looking for something and didn’t hear you.”

The village chief, who had been crouched under a table in the corner, jumped up. Keter threw his arm around the chief’s shoulders.

“Do you see the state I’m in?”

Keter, having just come from a fierce battle, was a mess. The chief nodded vigorously.

“If I hear you say you didn’t know anything, I’ll rip your tongue out. Got it?”

The chief nodded even more frantically. No matter how old someone was, death was still frightening if they had a lot to lose.

“What was the name of the missing knight again, Luke?”

“Oh, uh... Right. We did come here on a mission, didn’t we? The knight’s name was...”

Luke, seeming to have forgotten as well, pulled out the mission document to check.

“Reynold. He’s a knight of the Sacred Order of Sefira.”

“You know that name, right, chief? How did you deal with him? Just tell me that.”

“D-deal with him? I sent Sir Reynold to the empire safely.”

“Empire, my foot. You probably sent him to heaven.”

“No, that’s not true. Why would we kill Sir Reynold?”

“That’s none of my business. You were probably trying to lure Katherine in, too.”

“There must be some sort of misunderstanding, Lord Keter. Sir Reynold wanted to leave, and all we did was help him.”

The village chief, looking like he had been wrongfully accused, began going on and on. He claimed that Reynold had been disrupting the atmosphere within the Sacred Order of Sefira. He spread negativity everywhere, saying that they had no chance of winning and that everyone was going to die. He even confessed to the commander that he wanted to return to his hometown.

Reganon couldn’t allow Reynold to continue influencing the order negatively, so he let Reynold leave as he wished. However, Reganon couldn’t send him back to his hometown; if word got out, everyone would start asking to return home, which would crush the fellow knights’ morale. Instead, they sent him to the empire, along with his entire family.

“It’s true that we set things up in this village to lure Dame Katherine, but we had no intention of harming her,” the chief explained.

“I’m glad you brought that up. Why did you call Katherine here? Are you going to say she was depressed or something?”

“Dame Katherine is a woman. You know what can happen to a female knight if they are captured by the enemy. Elder Reganon couldn’t bear the thought of such a young and talented knight facing such a terrible fate...”

Keter smirked.

“Funny how you know so much. When did a village chief in the middle of nowhere become so well-informed and powerful?”

“Elder Reganon is an honorable man. He carries a noble cause, so he doesn’t hide his true intentions from those of us who serve beneath him.”

“What a loyal servant you are,” Keter replied sarcastically.

Keter released his hold on the chief and stared him in the eyes. The chief quickly looked away, but Keter didn’t pursue further.

“Chief, you have children, don’t you?”

“...Yes,” the chief replied hesitantly.

"Elder Reganon is done for. You know why? He hid the Flying Wolf Tribe without the patriarch’s permission, and I'm going to expose it. What do you think will happen to him for hiding one of the Seven Cursed Species that the emperor is desperately searching for?" Keter asked,

“...”

“Don't you want to see your grandchildren? You should also send your children to the city instead of letting them rot in a place like this.”

“What more do you want to hear from me? I haven’t lied.

“If someone asks you where you stand, remember whose side you’ll choose.”

“...!”

“And stop exploiting the soldiers so much. You need to coexist, not leech off them.”

“Coexist...”

“I’m leaving.”

Keter left the village hall, leaving the chief behind. He had presented the choices; now, the rest was up to the chief. If he made the wrong decision and noise reached Keter’s ears, there would be no choices left for him then.

Outside the hall, Halibo was waiting.

“Lord Keter! All the criminals have been restrained, and the carriages are ready. Please give your orders!”

Keter didn’t actually have the authority to give orders, but Halibo treated him with utmost respect, as if serving a superior officer.

“Halibo, was it?”

“Yes, sir! I belong to the Seventh Division of the Order of the Stars.”

“Are you trying to get on my good side already?”

“Yes, sir! Absolutely!”

“I’m from the lawless city, and it’s only been two days since I’ve joined the family. Even my family calls me a troublemaker.”

“I trust myself more than other people’s opinions!”

“You idiot, that’s just a gamble! But I like it. I’ll remember your name.”

“Thank you, my lord!”

Keter’s first mission had started quietly, with just him and Luke setting out. However, their return was quite loud and grand, as they returned under the escort of the soldiers from the fortress.

* * *

The southern gate of the main Sefira estate was only guarded by a few soldiers as it was the least in danger of invasion. However, for the first time in a while, it was swarming with people because of Keter and Luke, who returned with soldiers from the fortress.

The presence of the captured knights of the Bydent family, bound and loaded into five carriages, made a significant impression. The on-site supervisor panicked and immediately reported the situation to his superior, who quickly gathered a knight order at the southern gate. The knights were shocked when they recognized the crossed spear, the symbol of the Bydent family.

"This spear is not a replica. These are definitely knights of the Bydent family."

"Captain, look over here. T-the Spear Dragon! The prisoner over there is the Spear Dragon, Jordic!"

"No way... What?!"

Jordic's face was widely known, not just because he was the youngest son of the Bydent family but due to his prestigious title of Spear Dragon.

Halibo, the lieutenant commander of the fortress, stepped forward to explain the situation.

"Lord Keter and Sir Luke subdued them all. I saw it clearly with my own eyes."

Strictly speaking, this was after the battle had ended, but to Halibo, the process wasn't important. The fact that the knights of Bydent were all lying in front of Keter was undeniable. Halibo hadn’t questioned Keter on how it happened at the time, which scored him some points.

"What exactly happened? Why were there Bydent family knights in Hacose Village, and how did Lord Keter and Sir Luke manage to subdue them?"

The supervisor of the southern gate’s defense pressured Halibo for answers, but Halibo, reading the room, turned to Keter.

“It would be better to ask Lord Keter directly. I only handled the aftermath.”

“Hmph...!”

With that, everyone’s attention shifted to Keter, the key figure in this incident. The stares were filled with suspicion and doubt. After all, Keter was accompanied by Luke, who was notoriously known for being a coward. It seemed impossible for a troublemaker and a coward to not only defeat but capture seven knights of the Bydent family. They even brought them alive, which was considered to be more difficult than killing them. It was incredibly difficult to believe..

“Lord Keter,” one voice called out.

“Your rank and name.”

“I am Haxen, a knight of the Sacred Order of Sefira and the captain of the southern gate defense.”

“Haxen, treat the Bydent knights' wounds and lock them up in jail.”

Haxen looked troubled as he replied, “Lord Keter, these men trespassed on Sefira’s estate. They deserve interrogation and torture, not medical care. The patriarch will not permit this.”

“Who said there won’t be any torture? I’m going to do it myself, so make sure they’re in good health. Or are you implying that I lack the authority? They’re prisoners I captured.”

“All decisions in Sefira are at the discretion of the patriarch.”

“Let him decide, then. Until he does, follow my orders,” Keter commanded.

“... I can only say that they were your orders, my lord. Please understand that.”

“Sure, whatever.”

As Keter walked by Haxen, that’s when he heard a familiar voice.

“My lord!”

It was Jacques, who had come out to greet him.

“Now I feel at home.”

“How are you feeling, my lord? Let’s head to the infirmary first.”

“The dining room is my infirmary. Let’s head there. Did you eat, Gramps?”

“Your entire body is covered in blood, and your clothes are all tattered up. How can you be fine, my lord?”

“Do I have to take off my clothes for you to believe me? Should I take them off right now?”

“Let’s head to the washroom first if you will be heading to the dining hall, my lord. I must examine that you are indeed fine, my lord.”

“You should look at him first then,” Keter said, grabbing Luke and making him stand in front of him.

Jacques examined Luke. He was dirty, and his clothes were in even worse condition than Keter’s, but he didn’t have any wounds or bloodstains.

However, Jacques could sense from his fatherly senses that even though Luke didn’t suffer any physical injuries, he had suffered some to his heart.

“Good work, son.”

Jacques just patted Luke on the back as he couldn’t pat his full grown son on the head in front of everyone. Luke, however, didn’t hide his exhaustion.

“Father, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, tell me. But right now...”

Jacques believed his role as a butler was more important than his role as a father. As Jacques tried to take care of Keter first, he looked sick of it.

“As if you always followed me around. I’ll make sure to cause just enough trouble, so please take care of my friend first.”

“Friend...!”

Keter referred to Luke as a friend, not a partner. As such, Jacques had no choice but to oblige.

“Let’s go,” Jacques said to Luke.

“Thanks, Keter.”

The two departed, and Keter stretched in satisfaction.

“Time for a full meal and a bath to wash off the sweat. Do we have a masseuse in the family?”

Just as Keter was heading towards the dining hall, a knight blocked his path. The knight was wearing silver armor representing the Order of the Galaxy.

“You’ve stirred up quite the commotion,” said the knight.

It was someone Keter had met before—Gant, the commander of the Fourth Division of the Order of the Galaxy, and one of Reganon’s confidants.

Keter, with a disinterested expression, replied, “You must have been in quite a hurry, showing up without any regard for appearances.”

“Lower your voice. Lord Reganon has summoned you. It would be wise to follow quietly.”

“Haha, haven’t quite grasped the situation, have you? Or did you not receive the report properly? If he wants to see me, he can come to me himself.”

“Come to you? Do you realize your tone to Lord Reganon? He is an elder of this family. Show some respect!”

Gant’s voice echoed through the hall, causing the nearby servants to flinch in fear. Keter stuck his finger in his ear nonchalantly.

"It seems like you always speak so loudly because Reganon has hearing problems, but I can hear just fine even if you speak softly, so don’t worry. If he wants to see me, he can come find me himself. After all, he’s such a grand elder, I’d be honored to meet him."

Keter brushed past Gant without a second glance. Gant reached out to grab Keter’s arm, clearly intending to drag him away by force if necessary.

Clang!

But what Gant grabbed wasn’t Keter’s arm—his own was caught instead.

"Y-you are..."

Gant’s voice quivered. The knight who held his arm spoke in a calm tone.

“It’s been a while, Sir Gant. It seems you have business with Lord Keter, but could you allow me to speak with him first?”

"Commander... Of course, sir.”

It was the commander of the Order of the Galaxy. His white hair and the deep lines on his face hinted at his age, yet it was clear why he was still the commander: the energy radiating from him was as overwhelming as a towering mountain.

Even Keter couldn't help but be astonished.

“You’re something,” Keter said.

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"You flatter me, Lord Keter. My name is Gasilius."

Gasilius greeted Keter with the etiquette of a knight. Keter liked this attitude.

“This is how a conversation should be. Who would want to talk if you start with threats, you know? If you want a physical conversation, I’m all for it though.”

“Ugh...”

Gant, who hadn’t yet left, gritted his teeth as he looked at Keter.

Gasilius once again showed his respect to Keter and said, “The patriarch is looking for you, my lord. If possible, I would like you to come with me now.”

“Impossible. I’m hungry and uncomfortable after a big battle. Tell him I’ll come after I eat and wash up.”

Gant was convinced that Keter was out of his mind. Not only had he disregarded the request from the commander of the Order of the Galaxy, but he was also ignoring the patriarch’s request. Keter was practically looking down on the entire Sefira family.

However, Gasilius merely bowed his head and said,

“I will relay that to the patriarch. So...”

Gasilius turned his gaze toward Gant. Gant flinched at the attention.

“Sir Gant, please deliver my request for leniency to Lord Reganon.”

“...Yes, sir.”

Gant gritted his teeth and glared at Keter. That was the best and only action he could take.