I’m the Madman of This Family

Chapter 382. A Future Without Me (10)

When I fell in the 7th Layer’s Clock Room, I vaguely sensed it. That time outside had accelerated, excluding me.

It was clear that the Heavens Sovereign had tried to send me into the future.

The fortunate part was that, just like forced regression, I could stop the flow of time. The unfortunate part was that no matter how much I resisted, I couldn’t completely avoid being affected.

I was exposed to the Heavens Sovereign’s time acceleration for only 10 seconds. But in those 10 seconds, I went to the “future.” I don’t know how far into the future I went, but…

“Others might be spared, but I’ll kill you, Heavens Sovereign.”

My vision is blurry from the shock of moving between layers. Hitting something usually fixes it. That applies to my body too.

Thud thud!

After hitting my head a few times, my vision clears. The pain also sharpens my mind, so it’s a win-win.

“I made it here properly.”

The 8th Layer, the Forest of Souls.

True to its name, it’s full of trees. However, it’s not a forest that brings peace of mind. The spacing between the trees is unnervingly uniform.

And there’s something hanging from the trees, like fruit, but its shape is unclear and blurry. Even when I make a telescope with my hands to look closely, I can’t make it out.

It looks like something pale, like smoke.

“Probably doesn’t taste good.”

The structure itself seems similar to the 5th Layer’s Infinite Library. The same scenery stretches endlessly.

Tap.

As I start walking, something like debris falls from the sky and touches my nose. Looking up, I see a crack.

“Hmm, it’s ruined.”

There’s a large hole in the sky. It’s the same void hole I saw when the 5th Layer collapsed. That means the entrance to the 8th Layer has already crumbled.

I don’t feel great about it, but I’m not exactly annoyed either.

“Even if it hadn’t collapsed, there wasn’t a proper way to get back to the surface anyway.”

I made it to the 8th Layer, the Forest of Souls, but something feels off. In the process of getting here, I’ve essentially uncovered all the secrets, and my purpose has become clear.

“They said souls would come if I called.”

Still, I risked my life to get here, and since there’s nothing else to do, I might as well call a soul. Who should I call? As I ponder, I sense a presence.

No footsteps, but someone is coming toward me.

“They’re coming without being called.”

Curious about who it might be, I turn my head and see a woman.

She’s an incredible beauty. Not just because she’s an elf, a race known for their beauty, but she’s the kind of beauty even among elves, like a goddess.

Seeing her with a crown of branches and flowers, Keter frowned.

Why frown when seeing such a beauty? Because Keter knew who she was.

As soon as he saw her, longing and joy exploded in his chest, but at the same time, sadness washed over him. Her appearing here meant she had died.

Keter called her name.

“Kadia.”

High Elf Kadia. One of Keter’s wives.

She had died. Now, the only wife of Keter left alive was Inara of the Fox Tribe.

Kadia smiled gently, as if welcoming Keter. That sight made Keter even more bitter.

“Why are you smiling like that? You’re making me feel guilty.”

Keter hadn’t done anything wrong to Kadia, but he couldn’t help but think he should’ve treated her better when she was alive.

“What are you sorry for?”

Kadia asked suddenly. Her voice was so much like when she was alive that Keter was startled.

He had heard that souls would come if called, but he hadn’t heard they’d be so similar to the living.

Keter didn’t answer and instead approached Kadia. He reached out and touched her cheek.

Soft.

It was smooth and elastic, like a baby’s skin.

Keter’s eyes widened.

“It feels so real.”

The sensation at his fingertips.

As he got closer, Kadia’s unique scent, like cotton flowers, brushed past Keter’s nose.

Fidget fidget.

Keter, fascinated, poked and prodded Kadia’s face. Kadia didn’t stop him.

“Can I do whatever I want?”

Kadia quietly accepted it.

As Keter’s hand moved from her face to her neck, and then toward her chest—

Slap!

Kadia slapped Keter’s hand.

At that point, most would give up, but Keter reached out with his other hand. Kadia chuckled, grabbed his hand, and said,

“You really haven’t changed, Keter.”

“Wow… You really feel like the living Kadia.”

“That’s because I am alive. I’m not a soul.”

She pressed Keter’s hand against her chest. Keter’s eyes widened not at the softness but at the clear heartbeat he felt in his palm.

It was unmistakably the pulse of life.

“Really… Kadia, is it you?”

“Take your hand off my chest and talk.”

“Ahem.”

Keter took a step back and looked at Kadia’s face again. Honestly, it was hard to believe.

And for good reason. This was the underground of the 8th Layer. Meeting Kadia here, alive? Keter deeply wondered if he was hallucinating, but it definitely wasn’t that.

Kadia, sensing Keter’s doubt, spoke.

“You don’t understand why I’m here, do you?”

“Pretty much. The fact that you’re alive is amazing enough, but your attitude makes it seem like you’ve adapted to this place, which is even more confusing.”

At Keter’s serious doubt, Kadia suddenly laughed.

“Hehe.”

“Funny?”

“You doubted me just as I expected. And I’ve already thought about how to explain it to you.”

“Wait, you thought about how to explain it to me? That sounds like you knew I’d come here.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Kadia clasped her hands over her stomach and muttered with an expression like she had transcended everything.

“I came here first to wait for you.”

Keter wasn’t surprised. Just like how you don’t scream when the pain is too much, his surprise had gone beyond shock.

Elves have foresight. Keter knew that well. But their prophecies are often vague and irregular, to the point where people say, “I’d rather believe a Dark Mage’s prophecy than an elf’s.”

Kadia, aware of this, continued.

“It’s not like I made a prophecy as an elf. It’s not entirely unrelated though… Keter, do you know why I came to Ruquer?”

“Something about the revival of your race, right?”

“More like wanting to overcome the crisis of extinction. It’s not well-known, but the Emperor is a hardcore purist. He wants to exterminate all non-human races. The war with the Beastmen was just the beginning. The Emperor’s underhanded work started hundreds of years ago, and even without foresight, it was clear. The extinction of non-human races, including elves, was only a matter of time.”

Everyone knows the Emperor dislikes non-humans, but Keter had never heard he wanted to exterminate them.

Keter had never been interested in politics or the outside world enough to care about the Emperor’s policies, so it made sense.

“People say elves are born strong. But even so, they’re a minority and not very competitive. The Sammael Empire is a country serious about its military. Even if all the elves united, they couldn’t withstand the Empire’s pressure. Since the direct approach wouldn’t work, I wanted to protect the elves by taking a dangerous path.”

“Similar. But I didn’t come to Ruquer aimlessly. The World Tree told me the answer was here.”

The World Tree is a being the elves worship like a god. What believer would ignore a god’s advice?

“Did the World Tree tell you to wait for me here?”

“The World Tree only guided me to Ruquer. Choosing to become the forest keeper here was my decision.”

“But you said you knew I’d come here. Who told you about that future?”

“No one told me. I just felt it.”

“You came here based on a feeling and waited for me?”

“You do that all the time.”

“Not wrong, but I’m a madman. You’re not.”

“I came to Ruquer’s underground seeking answers, but as time passed, I realized that even if all the elves united, we couldn’t stop the Emperor’s tyranny. But then I thought of you, Keter.”

“Why me?”

“You have many secrets. And those are secrets even you can’t solve. Eventually, you’d come to Ruquer’s underground. Like me. If I helped you then, you’d definitely grant my request.”

“Let me summarize.”

Keter sat comfortably on the ground, counting on his fingers.

“Kadia, you went to Ruquer’s underground to protect the elves from the Empire. But the only one who can protect the elves is Keter. So you waited for me on the 8th Layer to make me owe you. Right?”

“Right.”

“Does that make sense? Even if you’re a High Elf, the 5th Layer onwards is a place where even Transcendent Beings die. How are you perfectly fine on the 8th Layer, acting as the forest keeper? This is a trap, isn’t it?”

Keter openly suspected it was a trap.

Kadia gracefully knelt to meet Keter’s eye level.

“Yes. It was really hard, and I had to give up everything I had. It was more than just luck. This place felt like it was made for me. I realized as soon as I saw it. I was chosen to be the forest keeper here. Waiting for you here is my role.”

“Fate. Such a convenient explanation. So, for you to help me now, you need to get me out of here. Is that possible? I heard even gods can’t leave this isolated world.”

Amon had told him, and Thanatos confirmed it. It couldn’t be false information.

But Kadia confidently nodded.

“I told you. I was waiting for you. This place has many souls that need managing, but it’s not busy all day. So I made it. Another exit in case the entrance collapsed.”

“You made a backdoor?!”

“Metaphorically, yes.”

Keter stood up, grinning. In a situation with no way out, being able to escape so easily is undeniably joyful.

But that joy didn’t last long. A sense of unease crept in.

“You’re coming with me, right? Kadia.”

Kadia smiled faintly.

“Such a convenient thing wouldn’t happen… Keter. You’ve said it yourself.”

“…Ah, damn.”

The fact that he could escape easily was joyful, but it was only possible if Kadia sacrificed herself.

Yet, the current situation where he had to leave, even at Kadia’s expense, drove Keter mad.

“…Fine. What do you want me to do?”

“If you didn’t know, it’d be one thing, but don’t ignore the elves in their crisis. That’s my request.”

“I swear. As long as I live. And as long as my descendants exist. No one will oppress the elves.”

“…Thank you.”

Kadia took a step back, and Keter took a step forward.

“Why does it feel like I have to leave right now? I’ll leave in a bit.”

This is Kadia we’re talking about. She’s the lover who stayed with Keter through his stormy childhood and fiery youth.

Keter has regrets too. Leaving like this…

But Kadia hugged Keter and whispered in his ear.

“Keter. Look around.”

At Kadia’s words, Keter glanced around. Unnoticed, they were completely surrounded by pale souls.

“These souls gathered as soon as you arrived. Some of them like you, but many hate you. Regardless of their strength in life, they’ll hurt you, and I can’t protect you for long. So, you need to leave now.”

Normally, Keter would leave without hesitation, but he held Kadia tighter.

“If we part now, when will I see you again?”

“…Today won’t be our last meeting.”

Peck.

Kadia kissed Keter’s cheek and stepped back.

Whoosh!

A magic circle rose around Keter.

A path of light appeared in the sky.

As Kadia gestured, Keter’s body began to float. At the same time, the souls surrounding him rushed at him.

Crackle!*

But the magic circle blocked their interference.

Keter tried to ignore them, but some faces were impossible to overlook.

“Young Master! You promised to raise me! Are you abandoning me here too?”

The Knight of Sephira, Haribo. He clung to Keter, screaming.

The 10 years Keter was gone. Sephira had many sacrifices, and Haribo was one of them.

As one person became visible, countless souls began to scream Keter’s name.

“I helped you, so why are you repaying kindness with cruelty? I’ll curse you forever!”

Sword Dragon Rajis. Keter had once tried to guide him but failed, and Rajis was eventually sealed in the Three Thousand Worlds, where he died.

“Enemy of the Baydant family! I won’t let you escape here!”

Bolos, the eldest son of Baydant, joined in.

Countless other souls Keter had killed cursed and tried to stop him, but some souls pulled them away.

“Where do you think you’re touching the Young Master’s clothes with those filthy hands?”

A young girl who died trying to get food for Keter when he was sick at eight—

“Haha! Now you owe me!”

The blacksmith Vulkanus, who managed Sephira’s forge and seemed like he’d never die—

“Damn you. You’re the only one who can avenge me!”

Even Ultima cheered Keter on.

“Damn it, why are you dead again?”

Ultima grinned.

“Did you forget that my kind doesn’t live long? Don’t worry about the guild. I didn’t hand it over to the Grand Duke when I died. Sephira absorbed all my guild’s assets, so I’ve done my part.”

There was no time for more conversation.

The evil spirits were gathering. The magic circle protecting Keter couldn’t completely stop them.

“Go, Keter.”

“Go, Young Master.”

“Young Master!”

“Divine Archer!”

“Bastard! Go save Sephira!”

There were so many people Keter wanted to talk to, but there was no time. Keter shook off the sadness, regret, and temptation and flew toward the light.

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