Chapter 39: I’m Sefira’s Solver (3)
The Lillian Kingdom was divided into four lordships based on directions: north, south, east, and west. Under each lordship, there were approximately two or so fiefs, or estates, within which there were various cities and villages. Sefira, the Masters of Archery, was one of the Seven Gates directly under the queen and was located within Lantgen, a fief in the southern lordship.
Lantgen was located near the border. Fortresses and military cities were common near the border since there was always the risk of invasion. However, Sefira’s situation was different. This was because the power beyond the border was the Kingdom of Adeus, also known as the Kingdom of Real Men.
“We will attack on this specific day and time.”
“We do not attack the weak. Only the strong should step forward.”
“Ambush? That word doesn’t exist in our kingdom.”
They did not wage war to conquer, but to fight the strong. They revered and craved battle for the sake of honor. In Adeus, armor was a symbol of cowardice, and using long-range weapons was considered beneath even animals. Their preferred weapon was the fist, followed by blunt weapons like hammers and clubs.
As a result, Sefira, who used bows, was utterly disregarded by the Kingdom of Adeus. The people of Adeus knew even if they invaded, Sefira wouldn’t engage in a passionate fight but would just shoot a bunch of arrows from a distance. Defeating a family like Sefira, whose main weapon was the bow, brought no honor—only disgrace. For this reason, no one in Adeus even bothered to look in Sefira’s direction.
So, paradoxically, the Sefira family was considered one of the safest places despite being located on the border.
“The Hacose Mountains aren’t that rough or deep, so there are a lot of herb gatherers and hunters. You can even spot people from Adeus every now and then.”
On the road to the village of Hacose, Luke was sharing his experiences in an effort to get closer to Keter. Keter, however, simply stared straight ahead, silently listening.
“When I was an apprentice knight working at Hacose Fortress, this huge boar came charging at the fortress. I was completely shocked. We tried to chase it off with arrows, but it wouldn’t stop. Do you know why? Believe it or not, an Adeusian was chasing it barehanded!”