Ch.179Banquet (4)

Najin is sensitive to changes in others’ expressions.

This is due to the childhood she had to endure, and her innate eyes that don’t miss even the subtlest changes in others’ expressions.

“This is the first I’m hearing of it. The Order did such a thing? That can’t be right.”

And to Najin’s eyes, Eurypylus didn’t seem to be lying right now. The changes in Eurypylus’s expressions were natural. Even after checking twice, there was no awkwardness.

Of course, she couldn’t rule out the possibility that he might be a master of facial acting, and that all of this was deception… but judging from Eurypylus’s behavior so far, that possibility seemed low.

Above all, the very fact that he was making such a proposal to her now was clear evidence that “he doesn’t know what the Order did.” If he knew, he wouldn’t approach her like this.

“Then was offering me the position of Holy Knight Commander your own independent decision, Lighthouse Keeper?”

“Just as the Empire’s First Horn represents the Empire, I too represent the Sacred Order. The expression ‘independent decision’ isn’t appropriate. This is the Sacred Order’s will—”

“So, you mean you acted alone without direction from the Sacred Host or the High Priest?”

“Don’t interrupt me.”

The Lighthouse Keeper clicked his tongue and nodded with displeasure.

“Why should I follow the High Priest’s instructions? Only the Sacred Host, the Lighthouse, can give me orders. Besides, I’m not obligated to always follow her words.”

It seemed their relationship with the Sacred Host wasn’t strictly hierarchical.

The Lighthouse Keeper spoke with his arms crossed.

“Yes. It was my independent decision.”

“May I ask why?”

“Your attitude has suddenly become quite docile. Have you finally decided to have a conversation?”

“Yes, somewhat.”

“Though your attitude is still unpleasant, as the one making the proposal, I have no reason not to explain.”

When Najin gave a slight bow, Eurypylus’s eyebrow twitched. It seemed his mood had improved somewhat, evidenced by how his tightly crossed arms had already loosened.

“Great changes tend to bring chaos, and chaos naturally brings disorder. And you, who are shaking the foundations of a thousand years of history, stand at the center of that change. So what should be done?”

“Eliminate me?”

Eurypylus was taken aback by Najin’s words.

“You’ve been talking about killing and eliminating since earlier. That should always be the last resort. It’s not something to be chosen so lightly.”

With a short sigh, he continued.

“Change is ultimately the flow of the world. Human hands can temporarily block it, but not forever. If it can’t be stopped, shouldn’t we at least keep it close? We should guide that flow to be gentle rather than a torrent.”

Though his explanation was long, it essentially meant, “You seem dangerous, so I’ll recruit you as an ally.”

“You moved just for that? Someone with the title of ‘Immovable’?”

“…I had been thinking I should meet you since you were called the ‘Youngest Sword Seeker.’ Who could have predicted you’d earn four stars in just half a year?”

It was unfair from Eurypylus’s perspective too.

He had planned to move at a leisurely pace, but in less than half a year, this person had earned four stars, and rarely appeared in public, making it difficult to arrange a meeting.

Moreover, when he instructed his subordinates in the Order to “contact that fellow,” he only received responses like “We’ll try, but it won’t be easy.” It was quite frustrating for the Lighthouse Keeper.

In the midst of this, he heard that Najin would attend the banquet. Immediately, Eurypylus dragged his heavy body to the imperial capital. He felt he couldn’t delay any longer.

But what was this? As soon as he arrived, this fellow just glared at him instead of showing respect, got threatened by the Empire’s Sword Master, and was even asked to leave by the Empire’s Grand Magician.

From his perspective, it was quite, very unfair.

“The Order attacked you.”

“Yes.”

“They even tried to kill you. According to your claim, they even sent external personnel with leverage against them?”

Najin nodded, and Eurypylus touched his brow. With a grimace, he exhaled deeply.

“Wait. I need to think about this.”

2.

While Eurypylus organized his thoughts, Najin remained silent. She too needed to reconsider.

Until now, Najin had considered the following as her main enemies:

High Priest Orlang, the Sacred Host of the Sacred Order, the Lighthouse that Illuminates All, and the Lighthouse Keeper Eurypylus.

Quite some time had passed since Najin had drawn Excalibur, and during that time, she had been attacked by the Sacred Order. In this situation, Najin believed the Sacred Host of the Sacred Order couldn’t excuse herself by claiming ignorance of the current situation. Naturally, Najin assumed the High Priest and the Sacred Host were in cahoots.

‘And if the High Priest and the Sacred Host are in cahoots, then the Lighthouse Keeper, who holds higher authority than the High Priest, must be the same.’

Najin had made this assumption, and it was a reasonable one.

‘But…’

Najin looked at the man before her.

A figure with the appearance of a young man in his mid-twenties at most. But in reality, he was a transcendent who had lived for 400 years.

He seemed unaware of what the Order had done.

He appeared completely uninvolved.

Is that possible? Najin wondered, but Eurypylus didn’t seem to be lying. There was no point in expressing anger at someone who knew nothing; it would only leave her feeling empty. Najin looked at the Lighthouse Keeper with complex emotions.

—Originally, the Lighthouse Keeper should have been the biggest obstacle to Najin’s revenge.

Najin had made numerous plans to deal with the Lighthouse Keeper. In Najin’s mind, the Lighthouse Keeper was a powerful, robust, and ruthless enemy. But the Lighthouse Keeper she now faced was completely different from what she had imagined.

A passive, conservative figure who could be reasoned with.

Of course, he still bore responsibility.

She could certainly hold him accountable. Why had the Order’s great warrior allowed the Order to become corrupt? What had he been doing while the Order rotted away? She could be angry if she wanted to be, but… that would just be anger for anger’s sake.

Najin was angry at those who had deliberately tried to suppress her, but it was difficult to show hostility toward someone who had made mistakes without knowing anything.

‘If that were the case, I’d have to kill everyone associated with the Order.’

She didn’t want to do that.

Her aim was to destroy the structure of the Order and kill those who had planned this, not to kill everyone affiliated with the Order. That would make her nothing more than a mass murderer.

“Hmm.”

As Najin harbored these complex feelings, the Lighthouse Keeper slowly opened his mouth.

“I can’t be sure if what you’re saying is true. I’ll have to check for myself. I need to return to the Order and investigate.”

“…And then?”

Najin asked.

“After you find out, will anything change?”

“Who knows? What I want to know is not just whether the Order did such a thing, but more importantly, why they tried to kill you.”

“What if the reason is absurd? For instance, if the Order committed a clearly evil act, what then?”

To that question, Eurypylus stroked his chin and answered briefly.

“Well. We’ll see when we get there?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. I’m not the type who proclaims justice or upholds laws. If I were that kind of person, I would have headed to the Outer Continent long ago.”

Eurypylus spoke impassively.

“Basically, I’m on the Order’s side. I’m like an old friend of the Order, someone who’s known them for about 400 years… When a friend does something bad, you don’t immediately stab them in the back, right? It’s not too late to listen to their story first and then decide.”

He leaned back against the chair with his arms crossed.

“From the atmosphere, it seems like you want to completely destroy the Order? You seem to want to shatter the entire framework of the Sacred Order, including the Lighthouse, the High Priest, and everything.”

“……”

“Your silence is affirmation. This has become complicated. Ah, I feel like I’ve gotten involved in a complex story. This isn’t good.”

He scratched his snow-white hair as if annoyed.

“Najin, was it?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll make one final offer. Would you consider becoming the Holy Knight Commander of the Sacred Order? I’ll give you authority. If you don’t like the High Priest, kill him. I don’t intend to interfere with personal grudges.”

But, the Lighthouse Keeper said.

“That’s as far as it goes. I have to protect the framework of the Order itself. For my own personal well-being, and because I owe something to my friend.”

He drew a line on the table.

That was the compromise he offered. After tapping that compromise line with his finger, Eurypylus made a short gesture with his chin.

“I can give a bit more. You can destroy the framework to some extent. I’ll allow that much. As long as you don’t touch one thing, I don’t mind.”

“What is that one thing?”

“The underground city Attman.”

With a tap, his finger touched the table.

“Do you know about the underground city?”

“I do.”

“Yes. Well, it’s a place where major criminals are isolated, and it has its purpose. If you leave that place alone, I don’t particularly intend to interfere.”

“…What about the people imprisoned there?”

“Do you know someone there? Unfortunately, that’s not possible. They’re necessary.”

“Why are they necessary?”

“I can’t tell you that. Even telling you this much is a courtesy because it seems true that you were attacked by the Order, and it seems the Order has wronged you. Take this kindness as kindness. Asking for more would be shameless. Don’t you think?”

Najin looked at the line Eurypylus had drawn.

Eurypylus was warning her not to cross that line, but Najin’s answer to that warning was already decided.

“Then I can’t agree.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. My master earnestly advised me, ‘When you see a line, cross it first and think later.'”

“What a troublesome master you had.”

“He was, somewhat.”

“The negotiation has failed. Ah, this has become annoying.”

Eurypylus sighed and tilted his head back. With his neck resting on the chair’s backrest, he looked up at the sky. His gaze was directed toward the star of the lighthouse hanging in the sky.

“I’ve walked a long way for nothing. It’s a waste of time. It’s so wasteful it hurts.”

“Since the negotiation has failed, will you kill me?”

“No? Didn’t I say? Killing is always the last resort. But well…”

Eurypylus lowered his head to look at Najin.

“If the situation gets complicated, it might come to that.”

Murder is always the last resort, but the fact that it is still a means remains unchanged. If there’s no other way, he will do it. That’s what Eurypylus was saying.

“But well, as I said, we’ll see when the situation arises. At that time, I might oppose you, or I might cooperate with you.”

“That’s an ambiguous attitude.”

“Life is like that. It’s not divided into black and white, and things don’t neatly separate into this and that. Is there anything as inconsistent as humans? You might change when the time comes.”

Eurypylus shrugged.

“Then let’s see each other again next time. No, I’d prefer if we didn’t have to meet again.”

Eurypylus rose from his seat.

He walked away with heavy steps.

Watching his back, Najin suddenly asked.

“What is the Sacred Order to you?”

At that question, Eurypylus stopped walking.

He turned to look at Najin.

“An old friend.”

After answering thus and taking a few steps, Eurypylus turned back again and added one more thing.

“It’s also the reason for my existence.”

3.

After Eurypylus left, Najin remained seated, lost in thought for a while.

‘Merlin.’

-Yes?

‘Did you hear everything?’

-I was listening.

‘How does he look to you, Merlin?’

-What? How strong is that Lighthouse Keeper?

Najin nodded, and Merlin answered briefly.

-I don’t think anyone on the continent could beat him.

‘…Excuse me?’

Blinking her eyes, Najin asked again.

Even including the Empire’s three Sword Masters?

-Of course I’m including those three.

‘Doesn’t the Lighthouse Keeper have 6 stars?’

-As I’ve said before, stars don’t necessarily indicate absolute strength. Stars are weapons. Having more weapons to use is certainly advantageous, but… that doesn’t always translate to victory.

When approaching ten stars, things change a bit, but stars don’t necessarily indicate absolute strength, she said.

-And that Lighthouse Keeper is an exception among exceptions.

An exception.

-The Lighthouse Keeper, whether through immobility or some other means, accumulates his time. Based on that accumulated time, he has placed himself as an exception to the laws of nature.

The Lighthouse Keeper is free from wear and tear.

He has escaped from wear through some means. Merlin asserted that this was by no means an easy feat.

-I don’t know how much time he has accumulated, but I know because I’ve done something similar…

Merlin calculated, folding her fingers.

-If I remember correctly, the Lighthouse Keeper started accumulating when he was a little over 100 years old, so the accumulation would be a bit over 300 years? Since he’s been immobile, he probably hasn’t had much reason to use it.

After finishing her calculation, Merlin said.

-Assuming he burns all those 300 years… even if all five pillars of the Empire attacked, it would be a fairly even fight.

‘That much?’

-That’s just in terms of raw output. There would be variables if a fight actually started.

Merlin’s words aligned with what Dieta had said. Dieta had said that the existence of the Lighthouse Keeper itself acted as a kind of deterrent on the continent. Due to his overwhelmingly vast power, a balance was maintained.

“……”

Najin pondered the last words the Lighthouse Keeper had left.

An old friend and the reason for his existence.

Najin spent a long time contemplating what those words meant.