Chapter 482
Chapter 482
Chapter 482
Kali’s shocking declaration.
‘Eliminate Zeke Draker for the family head position?’
Bloodshed for power was common among those in authority.
In fact, if Kali Draker had decided to eliminate Zeke Draker first, it would be something Howard’s side would welcome.
After all, he was uncomfortable with Zeke Draker, who reminded him of the previous family head.
‘If Kali Draker strikes against Zeke Draker first, things become easier.’
Howard, who had been deep in thought, carefully spoke up.
"Eliminating Sir Zeke. Have you truly resolved to do this?"
Kali maintained a cold expression as she spoke.
"The only candidate for family head who stands in my way is Zeke. Helen has already sworn loyalty to me, and Abel and Bacchus are dead."
"That’s true… but eliminating Zeke, who is both a Black Knight and Draker’s guardian knight, is no easy task. Behind him stands Duke Draker, who was the previous Black Knight."
"Behind me stands the Sword King."
Sword King Bernas.
With Arthur Draker dead, the strongest in the Draker family was now Bernas.
Duke, who had long lost the power of the Black Knight and retired from the frontlines, couldn’t match the Sword King’s reputation.
Kali continued,
"Ishtar has agreed to help eliminate Zeke Draker."
Howard was startled by her words.
‘Ishtar is helping to kill Zeke Draker? Why?’
After pondering the question, Howard soon found the answer.
‘The Ishtar side must also be wary of him becoming the family head.’
Zeke Draker was showing unprecedented growth speed. If such a person became the family head, he would become an even greater monster than Arthur Draker, so the competing Ishtar family couldn’t help but be cautious.
Howard was convinced that from their perspective, they must have judged that Kali Draker becoming the head was better than Zeke Draker.
‘With the Sword King backing her up, and Ishtar lending their strength, the odds are sufficient.’
Howard slowly nodded and said to Kali.
"I understand Lady Kali’s intentions. However, this is not a matter to be decided lightly. Given the tremendous risk involved…"
"I promise you the position of Executive Director, Councilor Howard."
Just as Howard was about to bring up negotiation terms, Kali beat him to it.
‘Executive Director?’
The Executive Director of the Draker family was a position that held the central power of the Four Seasons Castle.
When Arthur Draker was the family head, this Executive Director position had remained vacant.
This was because Arthur Draker, who held absolute power, also took on the role of Executive Director.
It was a position that could check the family head’s authority within the family and, at times, wield even greater authority than the family head. And now Kali was offering this position first.
Kali looked at Howard and said,
"If you can persuade the Council of Elders well and create an opportunity, your name will go down in Draker history."
Howard was completely won over by Kali’s proposal.
‘If we eliminate Zeke Draker and put forward Kali Draker, I could hold and manipulate not just the Midlands but the entire Central Continent in my hands.’
The plan took shape in his mind.
Hiding his true thoughts, Howard sighed once and nodded reluctantly.
"Since you put it that way, Lady Kali, I have no choice. For the future of Draker… it must be a necessary choice."
After pausing as if in contemplation, Howard raised his head and said to Kali.
"However, there is something we need to verify before executing this plan."
"What is it?"
Howard looked at Kali and said,
"Please arrange for me to meet with the Ishtar representatives directly."
* * *
WHISTLE!
Yelin’s dagger sharply drove toward Zeke.
Zeke read the trajectory of Yelin’s blade and penetrated the gap in her sword path.
SWISH
Even before reaching Zeke, her sword flow was already disrupted, making it difficult for Yelin to continue her attack.
WHOOSH
Yelin retreated with a somersault in midair.
She seemed quite exhausted, her face covered in cold sweat.
Zeke looked at Yelin and said as he sheathed his dagger.
"We’ll stop here."
As soon as she heard his words, Yelin slumped to the ground.
"Haah. Haah."
As she breathed heavily, Himel of the Raven Tribe approached and handed her a towel and water.
"Are you alright, Young Mistress?"
Himel knew that Yelin wouldn't be exhausted from a regular sparring match.
Of course, that would be true if it were an ordinary match. Currently, Yelin had asked Zeke to use the power of a Black Knight during their sparring.
If it were an ordinary knight, they wouldn't have been able to move properly under Zeke's pressure, but Yelin had even managed to counterattack, showing remarkable skill.
Luther Gemben, who was watching from the side, wore an expression of admiration.
"As Sir Zeke said, the Ishtar family's martial arts seem to be based on ancient elven hunting techniques."
Luther Gemben had formally joined the Black Sword Knights and decided to serve Zeke as his lord.
Having been a martial scholar to Sultan Sharhazad when he was in the Muruk Empire, he had insights into ancient martial arts of the Eastern Continent.
Zeke spoke to Luther as if he had just remembered something.
"When I was invited to the Imperial Palace, I had the opportunity to fight with Assassination Master Saladin. He also used similar techniques."
Luther was shocked at hearing Saladin's name and asked
"S-Saladin. Is he still alive?"
"The Sultan wanted to persuade him somehow. Though I'm not sure if such a stubborn warrior will change his mind."
Luther nodded at Zeke's words.
"I understand why the Sultan won't let go easily, as the Assassination Master demonstrated strength beyond human limits."
"That's true. The techniques he showed were certainly impressive."
Zeke pointed to Yelin, who was resting on the opposite side, and said,
"I'd like for Lord Luther to pass down the ancient elven hunting techniques to Lady Yelin and the Raven Tribe."
Luther was surprised by Zeke's words.
"To Ishtar's secret art practitioners?"
Draker and Ishtar were transcendent families that had been at odds for a long time, with almost no exchange between them.
There was no reason for Zeke, a Draker, to specifically help the Ishtar side.
However, Zeke thought this was necessary. The reason he wanted to strengthen the forces of Ishtar, which could be considered a competing family, was to prepare for the war against the Abyss.
'The coming war will be even more intense.'
It would be impossible to face the Abyss and the legions of the demon realm it summons with just human armies.
As in the days of the Hero King and the Liberation War, all the people of the continent would need to unite their strength to fight against the Demon King's army.
Zeke looked at Luther and said,"Don't worry, you can teach them everything you know. Even if they were to stab me in the back with the elven hunting techniques they learn from you, I won't blame you."
When Zeke went that far, Luther nodded in understanding.
At that moment, Yelin approached Zeke and spoke.
"Sir Zeke, please, once more."
She was requesting another sparring match, despite not having fully recovered her stamina.
Zeke looked at Yelin and said,
"After today, we won't spar anymore. Instead, Lord Luther here will pass down the ancient elven hunting techniques."
Yelin and Himel were surprised twice—first that a human like Luther knew ancient elven hunting techniques, and second that he was going to teach them.
Zeke said to the surprised Yelin,
"It might be inappropriate to call this a condition, but I have one request for Lady Yelin."
"What kind of request?"
Since Zeke rarely asked favors of others, Yelin perked up her ears.
Feeling the curious gazes of others watching their conversation, Zeke turned his head and spoke quietly.
"How about we talk while taking a walk?"
Zeke and Yelin headed toward the garden behind the mansion, leaving the gazes of others behind.
The place where he was currently staying was one of the safe houses located on the outskirts of Atlas, away from the watchful eyes of the Draker Council of Elders and the Black Corps.
Zeke leisurely strolled through the garden behind the mansion with Yelin.
However, Yelin walking beside him was anything but at ease.
'What kind of favor is Sir Zeke going to ask that he's being so roundabout?'
All sorts of thoughts crossed Yelin's mind.
Unlike the calm-faced Zeke, Yelin was inwardly anxious.
Zeke pointed to a bench in the garden and said,
"Let's sit here for a moment."
Yelin sat down on the bench next to Zeke.
Though it was something she had long wished for, now that they were sitting together alone, her mind was a jumble of what to say.
Actually, since Zeke was the one with the request, there was no need for her to speak first, but with all sorts of words floating around in her head, Yelin blurted out without thinking.
"Wh-what happened with the S-Sultan back then?"
Regret washed over her as soon as she spoke.
'What am I saying now…?!'
After the trial, Yelin had been constantly bothered by Zeke meeting separately with Sharhazad.
She had gotten drunk, performed a sword dance in her emotional state, and then suffered in bed the next day, kicking off her blankets in distress.
Feeling she had made another mistake, Yelin wore a gloomy expression.
Meanwhile, Zeke pondered briefly after hearing Yelin's question, then responded.
"The Sultan and I formed a divine room covenant."
"J-just a covenant?"
Once again, Yelin regretted her words immediately after speaking.
Zeke nodded casually at her question.
"Besides the covenant... Is there something about the Sultan you're curious about?"
"N-no, nothing in particular..."
Zeke completely failed to understand Yelin's feelings.
Yelin unconsciously sighed in relief at Zeke's statement that he had entered a room with the beautiful Sultan and nothing happened. Then she was startled by her own reaction.
'Get a grip.'
Yelin had once resolved to dedicate her life to martial arts.
But since meeting Zeke, that resolution had somehow crumbled.
Zeke watched with curiosity as Yelin's expressions changed moment by moment.
He had never realized before that Yelin possessed such a range of expressions.
It was never boring just watching her face,which looked as if it had been sculpted from the essence of beauty,continuously transform.
After staring at her for a while, Zeke spoke.
"Before making my request, I have something I'd like to give you, Lady Yelin."
He took something out from his inventory.
A dagger with a black blade.
It was Anexi's dagger.
Yelin exclaimed in surprise,
"Isn't this the Seal of the Black River?"
The dagger that belonged to Anexi, the dark elf chieftain of the Black River tribe.
It was also the token of the covenant that had bound the Ishtar family to the border region.
Zeke looked at Anexi's dagger and said,
"Although its effectiveness as a token has disappeared with the covenant, this dagger possesses the attribute of being indestructible. I believe you'll find it useful, Lady Yelin."
Yelin received Anexi's dagger from Zeke with trembling hands.
It felt like it adhered perfectly to her hand, as if it had been made for her.
"Is it really all right for you to give me such a precious item?"
Since Zeke already had the Holy Sword and the Dark Sword, Anexi's dagger wasn't particularly necessary for him.
It was actually more helpful to him if his ally Yelin became stronger.
"It's enough if you can put it to good use, Lady Yelin."
Yelin's mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts at Zeke's sudden precious gift.
'Could it be that Sir Zeke is finally going to p-propose...?'
Her heart pounded violently, ready to burst.
Yelin pondered how she should respond if Zeke proposed. In her mind, scenes were already unfolding: setting up their wedding chamber, going on a martial arts pilgrimage as a honeymoon, and deciding where to establish their newlywed home upon their return.
But what came out of Zeke's mouth was completely unexpected.
"I would like to learn Elemental magic from you, Lady Yelin."
"I-I would like that too."
They looked at each other.
"What?"
"Huh?"
Zeke nodded at Yelin's response.
"I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic about teaching Elemental magic."
Yelin's face turned bright red at Zeke's words.
Lowering her head, she forced a smile and spoke.
"Y-yes, indeed. Hahaha."
With an awkward laugh, Yelin slowly regained her composure.
With a deflated expression, she looked at Zeke and said,
"But Sir Zeke, humans probably can't learn Elemental magic. Even among elves, only those with high spirit affinity can..."
WOONG!
Suddenly, a white light rippled from Zeke's body.
After the light faded, Yelin could only gape at what she saw.
"S-Sir Zeke?"
Zeke had emerged from the light transformed into an elf.