I’m the Madman of This Family

Chapter 383. The Appearance of the Divine Archer (1)

No one could have predicted it. What started as a civil war in the Lilian Kingdom had, in the blink of an eye, turned into a world war as various nations joined the fray.

Of course, no country seriously sent troops for a mere civil war, but it was still an extremely rare occurrence for the armies of all nations to gather in one country.

At first, everyone thought this war would drag on. As a result, the Lilian Kingdom’s economy would collapse, and whether Rukan or Rakan won, the country would be ruined.

At that time, prices in the Lilian Kingdom skyrocketed uncontrollably, and wealthy individuals, desperate to emigrate, spent their fortunes, creating a chaotic exodus. The future of the Lilian Kingdom, with its shattered economy and morale, looked bleak.

Then, Crown Prince Rukan made his move. He revealed the monsters of the Demon Realm.

Rukan, who controlled the monsters humanity had fought against for generations. Not just one or two, but an entire army of them.

Not only that. Humans corrupted by the power of the Demon Realm and even monsters began to appear, drawing the world’s attention to one place.

At first, they were intrigued. How had Rukan tamed the monsters of the Demon Realm? They observed with interest.

But the power was far stronger than anyone had imagined, and the rapid expansion of Ruquer’s fog was the biggest problem.

Ten years.

Ruquer’s fog had covered the entire Lilian Kingdom. However, it wasn’t the kind of fog that no one could escape from anymore. Those of Master level or higher could leave the fog.

But even so, the fog was deadly.

Basically, Ruquer’s fog was extremely dense. This meant sunlight couldn’t penetrate, and without sunlight, crops wouldn’t grow well, and diseases would spread more easily.

If it had ended there, the nations of the world wouldn’t have united. After all, it was someone else’s problem. Others’ misfortunes were just opportunities to exploit.

But Ruquer’s fog wasn’t satisfied with just taking over the Lilian Kingdom and began to spread to other nations.

Only then did the kings of each nation, as if realizing they had been too slow to act, quickly formed a united front, declaring Rukan the Demon King and creating a world coalition army.

The coalition army had no intention of prolonging the war. They sent their elite forces with the goal of defeating the Demon King within a year—but the war dragged on for nine long years. Transcendent beings, and even the kings of each nation, who were called gods, joined the front lines.

This was due to the existence of the “Evil Gods” aiding Rukan. Beings that even the transcendent beings couldn’t handle, and only the kings of each nation could confront.

With four such beings, the world coalition army struggled greatly.

At this time, the public criticized the Empire. Although the Empire had joined the coalition, their response was lukewarm. The biggest reason was that while all the kings of other nations had stepped forward, the Emperor of the Empire had not.

In any case, the war, which had been dragging on, finally approached its final battle.

The royal capital, the Demon King Rukan’s stronghold. They had finally captured “Skull Mountain,” which blocked the path to it.

Of course, no one let their guard down. The enemy was a monster, but not one that relied solely on strength and size. They were more vicious and cunning than humans. It could be a trap.

But they couldn’t just not go. Time was on the monsters’ side, not humanity’s. Ruquer’s fog was expanding daily.

The only way to stop it was to defeat the Demon King. No one had said it was certain, but everyone believed it.

Strategists from various nations and guilds spoke in unison.

“With our main forces all gathered in one place, the likelihood of the enemy attacking our weakened rear is very high.”

“But deploying part of our main force to the rear would be falling right into the Demon King’s strategy.”

“I agree. We can’t afford mutual destruction, so it’s crucial to avoid a full-scale battle with the forces targeting our rear and buy as much time as possible.”

A few suggested waiting to see how things unfolded, but the majority opinion was to “strike quickly.”

Wars are full of variables. Worrying about everything means you can’t fight. So, the moment the main force began its march to defeat the Demon King Rukan—sure enough, the Demon King’s minions launched a surprise attack on the rear. But it wasn’t the “small-scale invasion” everyone had imagined.

Sephira’s command center.

Crystal balls for real-time communication glowed red like mad, and the mages in charge of communication shouted at the top of their lungs.

“Fort North Valley is under attack! They’re holding out behind the moat, but they say they can’t last more than a day due to the enemy’s numbers!”

“The cathedral on Lion Hill, where the severely wounded are recuperating, is also in critical condition! They can’t hold out for even half a day!”

“Lord! We’ve received an urgent request for reinforcements from High Priest Taragon of the Cross Association. They’re under attack by numerous monsters and monsters!”

“Reports of a large enemy force spotted at Hakoze Fortress…….”

Hisop had been prepared for days, but he felt like he was losing his mind.

It was no exaggeration to say that monsters had appeared in every area under Sephira’s control. This was a scale far beyond what anyone had anticipated.

Hisop, gripping his wavering mind, gave orders to the strategists.

“This is the enemy’s ploy to confuse us. Even a rough estimate puts their numbers at over 5,000, and such a large force launching a surprise attack on us is absurd. Tell the soldiers to calmly assess the enemy’s numbers!”

The enemy’s numbers were ten times what they had expected, which was impossible.

‘How could they hide so many monsters without us noticing?’

Even with Ruquer’s fog covering the world, Sephira was the family with the sharpest eyes. Among all nations, Sephira had suffered the fewest surprise attacks. The idea that 5,000 enemies were hiding and then launching a surprise attack on the city was absurd.

Even if a god had intervened to hide the troops, why would they use 5,000 troops to attack the rear?

The world coalition’s main force had gone to attack the Demon King. Naturally, the Demon King would have to gather all his forces to defend against it.

‘Is Rukan planning to self-destruct?’

If so, it was the worst-case scenario. If Rukan was prepared to self-destruct and unleashed all his forces on the rear, every nation would suffer severe damage.

“Send reinforcements. Assign guard and menial duties to the wounded who can move, healthy children, and the elderly, and mobilize all combat-ready personnel!”

“Yes!”

This was no time to hesitate. Sephira’s main family was also short on troops.

Hisop’s brow furrowed, and his clenched fist trembled. No matter how much he racked his brain, saving everyone was impossible.

Then, the communication mages reported the situation again.

“Lord! The enemy forces have no disguises. They’re all real monsters!”

“Same on our side!”

It was the worst-case scenario.

Moreover, requests for reinforcements from other families were pouring in like crazy, as they were also under attack.

Sephira wasn’t the only one under attack. Other families, no, the entire world was under attack.

“We have no resources to send reinforcements to other families. Reject all requests!”

With the Sephira family itself in crisis, there was no capacity to help other families. Without hesitation, Hisop rejected them and shouted.

“Is the mobilization of troops still not complete? Think of our family members dying every minute!”

Hisop wasn’t just nagging. He was frantically calculating in his head where to send whom and how many.

“Lord! We can mobilize 750 troops immediately. Another 1,000 will be ready within an hour, and 1,000 more within half a day!”

“Ugh.”

Hisop gritted his teeth at the unexpectedly low numbers. Sephira had about 3,000 troops in total, and even if they sent them all to one place, it was uncertain if they could save anyone.

Sephira’s soldiers were all elite, one against a hundred, but Rukan’s monsters were the same. Each one required Aura to even harm them.

Hisop gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to say it, but he had to.

“Trying to save everyone will result in losing everyone. Set priorities. Decide which places can hold out immediately and which must not be lost. You have one minute.”

The seven strategists also felt the pain. Their choices would determine who lived and who died. But the longer they delayed, the more casualties there would be. So, even as tears streamed down their faces, they devised a plan.

“Splitting the troops risks them being ambushed while moving. Send all 750 troops immediately to the cathedral on Lion Hill to put out the most urgent fire, and if the additional 1,000 arrive within an hour, we can definitely save them.”

“We don’t have the capacity to bring the severely wounded from the cathedral back to the base. Send them to nearby hideouts prepared for this, and have the reinforcements head straight to Fort North Valley…….”

Hisop listened to the strategists’ plan before speaking.

“Didn’t I say it clearly? We can’t save everyone. So, what’s this route?”

The strategists had marked the rescue troops’ route on the map, all of which were the shortest paths except for one unusually long one.

The map had skulls marked in various places, indicating dangerous areas to be cautious of. Among them, one was particularly red, and Hisop pointed at it.

“This is an irrational decision. Exclude this route.”

The strategists understood. In fact, they knew it well. It was the only flaw in their strategy.

But they tried to dissuade Hisop.

“But Lord, High Priest Taragon is there…….”

“Who doesn’t know that?!”

Hisop slammed his fist on the table. Despite his angry voice, his eyes were trembling uncontrollably.

“I also wish Taragon could live. But where he is, it’s the most dangerous place in Sephira’s territory, and the number of people we can save there is the smallest. So, exclude it.”

“Lord…….”

“Enough! Don’t mention it anymore. Execute the plan excluding this route.”

Taragon was abandoned.

But it was a rational choice.

Where he was, it was Ruquer’s homeland. The source of the cursed fog. A place where the fog’s density was so extreme that breathing was difficult, and even Master-level beings struggled against the swarming monsters. Taragon was there.

Of course, Taragon wasn’t alone. He was with the 100 members of the Cross Association he led. Five years ago, Taragon had taken the Cross Association there on his own, saying he would bring back Keter.

-“I’ll accept any punishment after I find Keter, Brother.”

Taragon, who had left like that, hadn’t completely cut off contact with Sephira. He periodically reported the situation. That he had found traces of Keter, or that he was searching for a passage underground.

There were no results, but Hisop had supported Taragon. But in the end, Keter wasn’t found, and Hisop couldn’t save Taragon.

The reinforcements set out on Hisop’s orders. After sending them off, Hisop quietly sobbed in a place where no one could see him.

Ruquer’s homeland.

This place, where only traces of buildings remained, was covered in a slimy substance. The slime pulsed as if alive.

And in that truly ominous and horrifying place, there was a living human.

Taragon, leaning against a wall not covered by the slime, clutched his chest and gasped for breath.

“Haa, haa.”

Beside Taragon were two people, one of whom took out a medicine bottle from his pocket and said.

“High Priest, here’s the Elixir. Take it.”

“Haha. How can I, with all my limbs intact, take the Elixir from someone who’s lost an arm?”

“That’s why you should take it. I’m of no use now. I’ll buy some time, so you go back alive.”

“Why are you of no use? You can shoot a crossbow with one hand. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Then shall we all die together here?”

“That can’t happen.”

The middle-aged man called High Priest, Taragon, took off his cloak. In the center of the cloak, symbolizing the Cross Association, was a large cross shaped like a crossbow.

The other two cloaks had the same emblem, but slightly different. Below the cross, the number of arrows differed. Their cloaks had two, while the High Priest’s had three. Two arrows indicated a squad leader, three a captain.

“Give me yours, and I’ll wear this. The enemy will surely think I’m sacrificing my subordinates to escape. Use that gap to run.”

“Why me? Eren, with both arms intact, should take that role…….”

“I’m done for, Caesar.”

Eren showed his chest, which had been covered by the cloak. A large spike-like object was embedded in it. He had been pretending to be fine, but in reality, he was mortally wounded.

“Caesar. And one more thing.”

Taragon took off the ring he was wearing and handed it over.

It was a level 5 magical tool Keter had taken from Baydant’s lord, Bolos. A ring imbued with all sorts of defensive magic.

Originally, Keter had given it to Hisop, who then gifted it to Taragon when he became the High Priest of the Cross Association.

“With this on, they’ll definitely fall for it.”

“High Priest…….”

Caesar clenched the ring, on the verge of tears, when Eren tapped his shoulder.

“Save your tears for when you’re alive at my grave. The enemy is coming.”

Seven had sacrificed themselves to buy the three some time. But their location was discovered in just ten minutes.

Taragon, catching his breath, leaned on the wall and stood up.

“Cover yourselves completely. When the enemy appears, Eren and I will run to the left. Caesar, you run to the right.”

Taragon covered his face and body completely with the cloak and loaded his crossbow. The other two silently loaded theirs as well.

Soon, a figure appeared through the fog. He looked like a perfectly normal young man. His expression was gentle, and his upright posture exuded dignity.

At first glance, he seemed harmless, but the blood and crossbow bolts on his body revealed he was a monster.

“Do you know the saying about grasping at straws?”

Tap, tap.

He flicked off the crossbow bolts embedded in his body as if dusting himself. Despite the bolts being deeply embedded, not a drop of blood flowed.

Taragon and the two crossbow marksmen didn’t respond. Instead, they fired their crossbows.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The notion that a crossbow could only fire one bolt at a time had long been shattered. The crossbows the three held were loaded with ten bolts each, and it took only a second to fire them all.

The bolts they fired were imbued with clear Aura, and the bolts themselves weren’t ordinary steel. Amantiir framework. Coated with blue steel. Even without Aura, they could pierce steel plates, and with Aura, their power tripled.

This meant that even a Master-level being couldn’t survive a direct hit, but—

“Do you not have the ability to learn?”

Thud, thud, thud!

The monster didn’t dodge. He took all the hits with his body. His forehead, eyeball, Adam’s apple, heart, abdomen, side…. Every vital spot was deeply embedded with crossbow bolts.

Yet, he was smiling.

“Grasping at straws, in the end, is useless. Just like your actions.”

The monster reached out his hand.

The three of the Cross Association acted as planned.

Whoosh!

Taragon and Eren ran to the left—

Caesar ran to the right.

Thud!

Even before the hand fully extended, the monster’s fingers stretched out and pierced Eren’s heart beside Taragon. Just as Taragon had predicted, the monster recognized Taragon disguised as a squad leader and attacked.

Eren died instantly, but Taragon only had his right shoulder pierced.

The monster, with a relaxed expression, looked at the fleeing Caesar and muttered.

“Trying to save even one person, huh? I won’t even take a minute to kill you.”

“Keh keh keh, then I’ll hold out for ten minutes.”

“Try it.”

Taragon remained composed, but the outcome was already decided.

The monster’s finger tentacles weren’t just fast and strong. They also injected poison. Taragon’s body was almost paralyzed, making it hard to even breathe.

Yet, Taragon didn’t give up. Even as his eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, he refused to close his eyes.

Then, Taragon smiled. Something faintly visible in the distance.

‘Keter.’

Of course, Keter couldn’t have appeared. It must have been a hallucination before death.

Sure enough, without even blinking, Keter disappeared like a mirage.

Instead, his body suddenly felt light. As if someone was supporting him from behind.

‘Ah, Keter. Thank you.’

Taragon thought Keter was helping him. Otherwise, his body wouldn’t have moved so suddenly.

Instead of the crossbow, now as good as a limb, he took a bow-shooting stance. Aura naturally flowed, forming a bow and arrow.

The fifth form of the Zodiac, Leo.

Taragon, as if entranced by Keter’s illusion, fired it, and the monster sneered and took the hit again.

Boom!

That was the monster’s last appearance. The monster, who hadn’t shed a drop of blood from any attack, disappeared, leaving only his ankles.

“……!”

Taragon couldn’t believe it. He blinked, thinking it might still be a hallucination, but it was real.

Taragon, his strength drained, collapsed. Then, he cried.

“Keter. Even in death, you’re helping me.”

He firmly believed that the dead Keter had drawn out some unknown power to save him.

“What are you mumbling about?”

“Hahaha. Hearing Keter’s voice means I’m about to die too.”

Though he had defeated the monster, Taragon was also severely wounded. He had exhausted his strength with that last shot.

Taragon lay down heavily. Above him, Keter’s face appeared.

“Just like you were ten years ago. Keter…….”

Taragon’s eyes slowly closed. Just as they were about to shut completely—

Smack!

Keter’s flick hit Taragon’s forehead, and the pain, transcending death, made Taragon’s eyes shoot open.

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