Chapter 145

Chapter 145. Go Ahead and Slice Me

The central chamber of the House of Lortel.

A structure composed entirely of iron, devoid of any decoration.

In that stark environment where warmth was entirely absent, House Head Muhad stood like a blade. No, he was iron itself.

Before that cold metal stood a single mage.

By contrast, an incredibly soft, fragile figure.

Perched upon a steel seat, House Head Muhad observed the mage with heavy-lidded eyes.

“Leave.”

His gaze was as vacant and hollow as if it held not even a flicker of sentiment.

“I have seen your efforts, and for that, I will spare your life.”

With those words, Muhad looked away from Aster.

That was when Aster began to speak.

“…Did I hear you correctly?”

“I stated that you are beneath my expectations. I will allow you to live as a courtesy to your futile struggle, so depart.”

At that, Muhad’s eyes locked onto Aster once more.

“The Mage Tower and the Sword Garden were somewhat intriguing. Their intelligence networks piqued my interest. But if the Master of the Tower is merely this…”

His expression remained detached, showing neither disdain nor true disappointment.

Muhad did not finish the thought, yet the implication was clear.

In essence… yes.

‘Inadequate.’

Muhad was gauging the value of the Tower and the Sword Garden based solely on Aster.

It was a deeply belittling evaluation—and that was when a cynical, crooked grin spread across Aster’s face.

“So you’re suggesting I should be grateful you’re letting me live and just vanish?”

It was a brazen tone to take before the master of Lortel, but Muhad remained unfazed.

He had no reason to feel slighted by a common insect or an insignificant creature.

He offered no response, signaling his will through silence alone.

That was when Aster let out a sharp, mocking chuckle.

“Honestly, what is this… are the leaders of these supposed elite houses just the offspring of low-level thieves?”

In that very moment—

Clang! Chaejaeng!

Dozens of blades materialized from the gloom!

The shadow knights had lunged forward, unable to tolerate such an insult toward their lord.

It was a disorienting display.

Even if my reflexes had slowed from my internal trauma, how could I have failed to notice dozens of men concealing themselves in such an exposed chamber?

But.

Aster regarded the incoming points of the swords with a look of boredom.

And just before the shadow knights were about to carve Aster into pieces—

Muhad issued a command.

“Halt.”

At that single word, the shadow knights froze, their blades held perfectly still.

Fixing his gaze on the lethal edges, Aster scoffed.

“Must be nice, right? Someone gets their pride dismantled right before their eyes and they can’t even voice a complaint, but someone else gets insulted and their underlings immediately draw steel, don’t they?”

“You are truly insane.”

“How could I be anything else when the world is in such a state—when it’s this much of a disaster?”

Khaak, ptooey!

The shadow knights’ blades bristled with murderous intent at such insolence.

However—

“Wow, how menacing. Yeah? You might actually draw blood. But then what—your boss tells you to stop, and you comply, right? Huh? What, you aren’t going to lower your gaze?”

Aster pressed his fingertip against the nearest blade tip, pushing repeatedly. Drops of blood slid down the sharp edge, but Aster ignored it, staring directly at Muhad.

“That’s enough. Go ahead and gut me.”

Aster flopped backward onto the floor.

“I know this much—I refuse to be swindled. Go on, slice me up. Execute me if you want, let me go if you prefer. Well?”

Regardless of this being Lortel, this was way over the line.

‘Bastards—if you’re going to accept it, just accept it. What is this now?’

Changing your mind at this late hour?

Handing over the magical armor Kalium, disclosing the secrets of the Impirga, and even engaging in a tug-of-war with the First Sword.

I have done more than enough.

“I don’t care about anything else, but I’m not budging until you hand over the Infinite Chain, so do as you like.”

With that, Aster lay there, limbs spread wide.

Muhad observed Aster with his impassive eyes.

But Muhad was an incredibly formidable adversary.

At this point, even the most detached individual would have flinched, or perhaps offered a bitter laugh at the sheer absurdity.

Yet, he showed not the slightest flicker of emotion.

He only…

“……”

Remained silent, lips clamped shut, as if simply observing.

That was when a voice reached Muhad’s ears.

[Please provide orders for his disposal.]

The commander of the shadow knights stood behind Muhad, his eyes locked on Aster with lethal focus.

[If you command it, I will finish him right now.]

In reality, it was the House Head’s silent authority that had prompted them to draw their weapons at Aster’s provocation.

It had been a final test—to see if this man truly deserved the recognition of the First Sword.

Of course, now that the House Head had deemed him “disappointing,” that test was irrelevant… regardless.

So the shadow knight commander awaited Muhad’s order—

Then Muhad spoke.

“Master of the Tower—do you not fear regretting this?”

At the inquiry from the House Head, the shadow knight commander tilted his head.

‘…What?’

Given the House Head’s nature, if he had determined someone deserved to die, he would simply end them—he wouldn’t ask a question to verify their intent.

So why ask?

‘Could it be… he is intrigued?’

That was a possibility.

When madness exceeds a certain threshold, it becomes something extraordinary—and the Master of the Tower’s conduct had surpassed even the extraordinary.

Was he testing him again?

If the Master of the Tower displayed true grit here…

While the shadow knight commander was pondering this—

Ssk.

Muhad gave a subtle flick of his finger.

‘……’

It was a minimalist signal with no explanation, yet the shadow knight commander—who had served Muhad for many years—grasped it immediately.

‘…So it is not a test.’

The meaning behind the gesture was clear:

—Take his head.

If he claims to have no regrets, then give him what he desires.

A fleeting moment of interest, nothing more.

So the shadow knight commander prepared to signal the knights—

But that was when the Master of the Tower jumped up.

“Are you deranged? Are you actually going to gut me?”

“Did you not claim you wanted to die?”

“No, I mean—I was just saying it for effect.”

Muttering to himself, the Master of the Tower dusted himself off and rose.

He straightened his attire, clicked his tongue, and shook his head.

“Now that I think about it, being a pushover is better than dying.”

“So?”

“I’ll leave this place in one piece, absolutely.”

At that, the shadow knight commander narrowed his eyes.

‘…What in the world is he doing?’

Honestly, until just a moment ago, the Master of the Tower’s demeanor had been enough to stir even the shadow knight commander’s respect.

Sure, indignation at the disrespect toward his lord came first, but few individuals could act with such audacity before the master of a great house.

But this…

‘Is that really the head of an organization?’

Yet, that bewilderment lasted only a moment.

The shadow knight commander requested the House Head’s final decision again.

[I will kill him.]

It wasn’t, “Shall I kill him?”

He wanted to finish him.

But for some reason—

“Hm.”

House Head Muhad rested his chin on his hand and emitted a low, hummed sound.

At that moment, the shadow knight commander’s eyes widened as if they might burst.

‘The House Head… smiled?’

His facial features hadn’t moved, but the commander knew.

Right now, the House Head was smiling.

And as the shadow knight commander realized that—

The House Head’s command was issued.

“Everyone, withdraw.”

What did that signify?

“I shall converse with the Master of the Tower alone.”

It meant he would treat the Master of the Tower as the peer of an organization leader.

[…As you wish.]

The shadow knight commander backed away and retreated from the grand hall. The other shadow knights followed suit.

In that moment—

The commander’s mind raced.

‘Why, exactly?’

His emotions were a jumble.

Meanwhile, Aster’s internal state was just as chaotic.

‘…Damn, what is happening?’

Did he change his mind? Is he about to kill me?

It was a thought most would have kept locked inside their own head. But Aster was not most people.

“Are you going to kill me? Or… will you really kill me?”

That was when Muhad’s lips curled upward.

A smile that felt unsettlingly cold.

Aster became certain.

‘…Dammit. So that’s how it is.’

…It was a total misunderstanding.

“Hey.”

As the shadow knight commander exited the grand hall with deep skepticism, someone called out, stopping him.

Responding to the elderly knight who had sensed his hidden presence instantly, the shadow knight commander halted.

“…First Sword.”

“How did it go?”

“What are you implying?”

The shadow knight commander asked with a sour expression.

It wasn’t because of Aster. He simply disliked the way Hamelan looked at him.

Hamelan, who seemed carefree despite the immense responsibility of serving as the First Sword, had always gotten on his nerves.

But even with the shadow knight commander’s overt hostility, Hamelan was unbothered.

“I mean the Master of the Tower. Since you all vacated the room, it appears he managed to please the House Head…”

“Your observation is correct.”

“I definitely heard him call it ‘disappointing.’ Why did the House Head reverse his decision?”

Ah—so that was the source of his curiosity.

Only then did the shadow knight commander understand why Hamelan was bothering to confront him.

Hamelan had heard the House Head’s harsh assessment before the doors had fully closed as well.

But if he were to ask for the reason…

‘Why?’

He was just as curious.

Because from the shadow knight commander’s perspective, there was zero reason for the House Head to change his mind.

‘He did seem to have some nerve, but…’

Even that felt like nothing more than a bluff.

No—it wasn’t even a bluff.

How should he describe it?

‘He definitely held steady eyes even while the shadow knights were closing in. Those were not the eyes of someone who cherished his own life.’

He calmly accepted the blades reaching for his throat.

If the House Head hadn’t intervened at that moment, what would have occurred? Surely, he would have been sliced to ribbons by those sharp points.

And yet, the Master of the Tower didn’t tremble.

It was the same when he brazenly displayed his resolve before the House Head.

It was as if he truly meant it: If you want to gut me, then do it.

So it wasn’t just a bluff.

But—

Are you insane? Are you really going to gut me?

Did you not say you wanted to die?

No, I mean—I was just saying it like that. Now that I think about it, being a pushover is better than dying.

That behavior…

Yes—quite literally, “now that I think about it,” he no longer wished to die.

So what does one call that?

Too petty to be called extraordinary, yet too remarkably rude to be called petty.

And was it cowardice?

‘…Not even that.’

The shadow knight commander attempted to decipher Muhad’s intentions, but he could find no resolution.

So his expression grew rigid—and misinterpreting that look, Hamelan urged him softly.

“It’s not as if I am asking you to betray some great secret. Just tell me what you saw, exactly as you saw it.”

“Mm.”

Hamelan stared intensely at the pensive shadow knight commander.

He was genuinely curious.

It was unprecedented for the House Head to reconsider a judgment. Even more so after he had declared it “disappointing”!

But—

“I have no idea. If you get the chance later, ask him yourself.”

Without further explanation, the shadow knight commander clung to his “I don’t know” and then—whoosh—disappeared.

Left standing there alone—

“…Ha.”

Hamelan let out a hollow laugh.

“That bastard’s attitude…”

Was he not disciplined enough as a youth?

‘Me and his master—huh? We were that close…’

Now that he’s grown a bit taller, he’s gone and thrown his manners away.

Of course, that might be why he became the leader of the shadow knights, but still—annoying is annoying.

“Hm, it can’t be helped.”

Ignoring all protocol, Hamelan flopped down in front of the grand hall doors.

Asking the person involved—the House Head—would be madness, so he decided to wait and ask the Master of the Tower directly.

So, how much time passed like that?

Kkiiiik—

The heavy iron doors swung open, and the Master of the Tower emerged.

Hamelan sprang up and walked toward him, prepared to ask and satisfy his curiosity.

“Hey, let’s talk for a moment— mm?”

Before he could even take a few steps, Hamelan was forced to stop.

Because—

“……”

Unlike when he entered, his face was rigid, even ghostly pale. He had clearly endured some intense shock.

As Hamelan pondered—

“Are you the Master of the Tower? The young lord is requesting your presence.”

An attendant sent by the young lord whisked the Master of the Tower away.

And then—

“First Sword, enter.”

“……”

The House Head calling him from within the grand hall.

But for some reason—

“Let’s have a drink.”

Unlike the Master of the Tower, his mood appeared—quite rarely—to be excellent.

‘Inside… what on earth transpired?’

He couldn’t make any sense of it.