SWNOVELXO Chapter 314
Episode 315. The Whole World is Dad (4)
The progenitor of Sephira, Kariel.
From his very first words, he startled Keter.
[Akra. So, she has finally reached out to Sephira as well.]
The three of them didn’t know who Akra was, so they couldn’t understand the ancestor’s words.
“My mother’s name is Akra.”
“What?!”
Since it wasn’t exactly valuable information worth keeping secret, Keter decided to tell them the truth.
“The ancestor passed away hundreds of years ago, so how could he know your birth mother…?”
Hisop couldn’t understand how this was possible. Keter, feeling the same, boldly asked.
“What is your relationship with my mother?”
[She helped me greatly. The Twelve Zodiac Palaces were her creation. The establishment of Sephira would not have been possible without her.]
“It doesn’t sound like it was just a friendly helper relationship. She must have had something she wanted in return.”
[True. But Keter, you didn’t come here just to hear that story.]
Kariel reached out his hand. The sword Keter was holding was effortlessly taken by him.
[Even if you are of Akra’s bloodline, I don’t care. If you make an oath, I will grant you my blessing.]
“I can roughly guess, but how exactly do I make this oath?”
[Swear to shed sweat, blood, and tears for Sephira. That’s all.]
“That’s quite vague, isn’t it? Could you explain it more clearly?”
Panir, displeased with Keter questioning the ancestor, quickly intervened.
“What’s vague about shedding sweat, blood, and tears? If you want it explained, it means sharing joy and sorrow. Not just you, but all bloodlines make the same oath.”
“Old man. An oath is just another name for a contract. It’s a method often used by ‘gods’ to deceive humans.”
“You brat, are you saying the ancestor is trying to deceive you? You really have no limits!”
Even though Keter was a hero of the family, the ancestor of Sephira was a different matter. Panir was furious, but Keter didn’t care and continued.
“I will shed sweat, blood, and tears for Sephira. If I make this oath, what exactly must I protect? Please tell me.”
Kariel smiled faintly at Keter’s bold question.
[In hundreds of years, I’ve seen hundreds of bloodlines, but none have asked such a question. Even if there is a hidden meaning, it’s nothing harmful. And that’s the truth.]
“I’m not that pure or naive. This place alone is strange. A place where the souls of deceased lords are trapped? If I make that oath, won’t I be stuck here forever?”
[The oath of the coming-of-age ceremony and the oath of the lord are different. But… you’re not entirely wrong. If you make the oath of the coming-of-age ceremony, you will be destined to never ignore Sephira’s crises.]
“Exactly. Sweat and tears are one thing, but shedding blood? That sounds like you’re telling me to fight for Sephira.”
[As a bloodline of Sephira, fighting for Sephira feels like a restriction to you?]
“Yes. A huge restriction.”
Hearing this, Hisop and the two elders were deeply disappointed in Keter.
How could he call fighting for his homeland and family a restriction? Does that mean all the help he’s given Sephira so far was forced?
But Keter wasn’t finished.
“That oath implies that I must fight for Sephira ‘unconditionally.’ In other words, ‘even if Sephira is in the wrong, I must fight for Sephira.’ Am I wrong?”
“……!”
“Of course, the current Sephira is full of good people. They rarely do wrong, and even if they do, they sincerely apologize. But I don’t think that will last forever.”
The Sephira family, living in isolation, didn’t practice incest, but they married within similar circles. People who valued public sentiment and justice, frugal and serious men and women of the family.
A person’s character is influenced by nature, but environment also plays a big role. Even mischievous children become quiet when they come to Sephira, where it’s so solemn.
But times have changed.
Mail is set to marry a quiet noblewoman, but Anis and Taragon prefer lively and cheerful women.
Sephira is changing. It’s becoming noisier and more talkative.
“Without incidents, there can be no growth. Sephira is currently at the center of events. And events inevitably lead to accidents. Even if it seems peaceful now, the tension is no joke. Even if they’re smiling on the outside, there are people inside Sephira ready to shed blood at any moment.”
Independence from the Lilian Kingdom was impossible for Sephira alone. They needed the help of others.
People with different personalities and tastes are gathering in Sephira. Right now, they’re holding back because of the war, but once peace comes, the direction of conflict will shift from external to internal.
Keter knew this very well. In the criminal city of Ruquer, such things happen frequently.
Yesterday’s ally becomes today’s enemy, and vice versa. It’s no exaggeration to say this happens daily in Ruquer.
Of course, Keter knows this is abnormal. But the outside world isn’t much different. It’s just a matter of time.
“Being more lenient with friends and family than with others is natural for humans. But I don’t want to take sides in things that are truly unacceptable.”
At first, Hisop, Leganon, and Panir felt disappointed by Keter’s statement, but they showed varied reactions.
Hisop nodded in agreement, while Leganon and Panir sighed and shook their heads.
“Keter. In short, you don’t want to share Sephira’s fate.”
Leganon summarized Keter’s words.
“Joy multiplies when shared, but sorrow and anger spread like diseases. If Sephira goes down the wrong path, isn’t it true love to correct them with affection?”
“I didn’t know you cared so much about Sephira.”
“Of course I care. It’s mine.”
“Huh?”
Panir felt a chill, as Keter’s words didn’t seem like a joke.
[Keter. Do you think your standards of good and evil are truly fair to everyone?]
“What a strange thing to say. Of course, it’s unfair. And isn’t that common sense? What’s the difference between a fish in the sea telling a bird flying in the sky, ‘It’s unfair that only you can fly, so give me your wings’?”
[By your logic, you’re no different from the gods who rule this world. Anything that doesn’t fit your standards will automatically be evil.]
“A minority of absolute rulers govern the world. I don’t think this structure is bad. On the contrary, a world ruled by a majority of fools sounds like chaos. Too many cooks spoil the broth, right? And if those cooks are fools, what happens to the ship?”
[…Your ideology is as dangerous as Akra’s.]
“Where in the world is there anything perfect? Thinking of living in such a perfect world already makes me feel suffocated. Even clean water rots if left stagnant, ancestor.”
[…….]
Kariel remained silent, but his meaning was clear. He had given up on persuading Keter.
[You’re a self-willed brat.]
“I’m just living my life as I was born.”
[I understand that you don’t want to be bound by anything. But if you won’t make the oath, I can’t grant you my blessing.]
“If you can’t give me your blessing, can you give me something else?”
Keter had come here because he was searching for something.
He and Maknun had searched everywhere in Sephira but couldn’t find it.
It must be here.
“Misteltein. It’s here, right?”
*
The reason Queen Lilian tried to bring down Sephira.
The god-slaying arrow, Misteltein.
Seeing Kariel’s expression, Keter was convinced.
‘He has it. Misteltein.’
If he becomes an 8-star Irregular, he might be able to defeat a monarch.
But he can’t kill Queen Lilian. He hasn’t fought her, but Keter is certain.
Before coming here, he felt it deeply after tasting a drop of her blood. The realm of those called gods is definitely above 9 stars.
He can still feel the clue to reaching 8 stars. But becoming a 9-star, honestly, he can’t guarantee it.
‘Handling good weapons is also a skill.’
From that perspective, Keter decided to try utilizing the god-slaying weapons.
The Five Great Treasures are the most notable. But obtaining them would be as difficult as becoming a 9-star.
But Misteltein was different. Unlike the fragmented Five Great Treasures, the arrow itself is said to contain the power of god-slaying.
Of course, Keter didn’t fully believe that.
‘God-slaying isn’t some dog’s name. Even if it has real god-slaying power, there must be conditions or restrictions.’
But even with conditions and restrictions, not having to gather them like the Five Great Treasures was a huge advantage.
‘If the ancestor gives it to me.’
If he doesn’t, should I steal it or beg for it? Keter was pondering this when:
[Do you know what Misteltein is used for and why you’re searching for it?]
“Isn’t it an arrow that can kill gods?”
[…Killing gods. That’s not entirely wrong.]
“I need it, ancestor. It would be great if you just gave it to me. Even just telling me where it is would be appreciated.”
[I have it. Akra gave it to me.]
“The records say Queen Lilian gave it to Sephira.”
Leganon, who knows Sephira’s history well, answered that question.
“The 3rd lord of Sephira presented Misteltein to Queen Lilian as a gift, but Queen Lilian returned it to the 7th lord.”
“Ah, I see. Then, ancestor, if you can’t transfer it, can you at least lend it to me? It’s absolutely necessary for Sephira.”
[If you make the oath, I can lend it to you.]
“That oath from before?”
[No. Swear that Misteltein will only be used to protect Sephira, and if it’s no longer needed, it will be returned to Sephira.]
“Hmm.”
Keter thought for a moment, then placed his hand on his chest and said:
“I swear to use Misteltein only to protect Sephira. And once it’s used, I will return it to its rightful place. I swear on my soul.”
[Stretch out both hands.]
Kariel clasped Keter’s outstretched hands. Then, an arrow appeared in his palms.
It looked like a broken branch, hastily made. No special patterns, even leaves attached, making it easily mistaken for a branch from afar.
But Keter couldn’t hold Misteltein properly.
Sssss!
Smoke rose from the part of his palm touching Misteltein. It wasn’t just because the arrow was hot.
‘It feels like my soul is burning.’
It wasn’t unbearable, but he couldn’t hold it for more than a minute.
Keter eventually placed Misteltein on the ground. Otherwise, it felt like his soul would be destroyed.
“So, the god-slaying power is real.”
[Keter. If you want to use Misteltein, there’s something you must know.]
Keter, who usually prefers short explanations, couldn’t afford to ignore this.
“I’m listening, ancestor.”
[First, Misteltein’s power doesn’t kill gods. It kills their bodies. Even if the target is a god’s physical form, it’s no exception. So, saying it can kill gods is only half true.]
“For example, what’s the difference between it and the other god-slaying weapons like the Five Great Treasures?”
[The Five Great Treasures can truly ‘annihilate’ gods. But Misteltein only destroys the body. It doesn’t reach the god’s soul. It can banish them from this world temporarily, but if not sealed, they will eventually revive.]
“The future descendants will handle that, I guess.”
[Also, to use Misteltein, you must have the power of a god.]
“Isn’t Ain the power of a god?”
Keter subtly showed Ain’s power. A perfect energy combining aura and mana.
Kariel shook his head at this.
[Ain is just the first step. You need a higher power, ‘Ain Soph,’ to draw out Misteltein’s true power.]
Ain Soph.
The power needed to reach the 8-star Irregular realm. Ultimately, you need at least 8 stars to kill a god.
Keter had expected this, so he calmly moved on to the next question.
“When I held Misteltein earlier, the resistance was immense. Does Ain Soph offset that?”
[The opposite. If you truly obtain Ain Soph and become closer to a god, even looking at Misteltein will become difficult.]
“Huh?”
Hearing this, Keter tried to move Misteltein with telekinesis. Of course, it didn’t budge.
Next, he tried to control it using the 7th form of the Celestial Infinity Technique, ‘Will.’ Still, it didn’t move.
Keter felt something was off.
‘So, I have to pick it up, nock it on the bow, and shoot it. Even with just Ain, I can’t hold it for more than a minute. With Ain Soph, I probably couldn’t hold it for even a second.’
Keter, who has reached a level worthy of being called a Divine Archer, can nock and shoot an arrow in less than a second. A fleeting moment. He can shorten it to less than 0.1 seconds.
But no matter how fast, he still has to physically hold the arrow.
‘Damn it, seriously?’
Seeing Keter’s expression, Kariel spoke with a bitter smile.
[Yes, that’s right. The one who shoots Misteltein also dies.]
“What if I shoot and miss?”
[Then you die alone.]
“Are there any exceptions?”
[None. That’s the condition of Misteltein’s god-slaying power.]
Keter didn’t feel like Kariel was lying. Why would he lie?
And, honestly, it made sense.
‘It was too easy to obtain.’
It took less than a minute to obtain a legendary weapon with god-slaying power. There wasn’t even a guardian like Toban protecting it.
Moreover, the usage is simple. Nock it, shoot it, hit the target. That’s all it takes to kill a god.
If the conditions were easy too, it would have been even harder to believe.
‘But this isn’t the picture I wanted.’
It’s true that I want to kill Lilian.
But that’s to live a free life.
If I die, there’s no freedom. I haven’t even seen the whole world yet, and there’s still so much fun to be had.
‘I don’t want to die.’
If I’m cornered with no way out, I might use it, but otherwise, I won’t.
[You look disappointed.]
“Yes. I guess I had some expectations. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”
[If you won’t use it, I’ll take it back.]
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t use it.”
Afraid Kariel might take it, Keter quickly grabbed Misteltein. Even holding it made his soul ache, but it wasn’t unbearable.
[My time is running out.]
Kariel’s soul began to crumble from his feet. Hisop and the two elders bowed deeply in farewell.
“It was an honor to meet you, ancestor.”
Kariel nodded.
Kariel’s upper body had already disappeared, leaving only his face.
Keter, with a somewhat solemn expression, watched Kariel disappear, then suddenly smiled mischievously and said:
“Ancestor. Do the other gods know about Misteltein’s usage conditions?”