I’m the Madman of This Family

Chapter 384. The Appearance of the Divine Archer (2)

Taragon had been deployed on countless missions over the past decade of war and had survived hundreds of battles.

He had suffered serious injuries, even life-threatening ones, but he could confidently say that none of them hurt as much as the pain he felt on his forehead right now.

It was a sensation so intense it was dizzying. The moment he was hit, the pain was so severe he thought he might pass out. Yet, in a way, it was also a nostalgic pain.

“Keter?!”

There was only one person in the world who could inflict this kind of pain—Keter.

This couldn’t be an illusion. Taragon jumped up and hugged Keter tightly.

“Keter, it’s really… it’s really you!”

Like a child afraid that letting go would make him disappear, Taragon held onto Keter tightly.

Keter grabbed Taragon’s shoulders and pushed him away, clicking his tongue.

“Look at your weathered face. How much time has passed?”

“Keter, you… don’t know anything?”

For Keter, it felt like no more than a week had passed. But in the outside world, ten years had gone by.

‘At least five years must have passed. That damn Heavens Sovereign. No matter what tricks you pull, I’ll take you down.’

Taragon opened his mouth to explain, but Keter stopped him.

“Wait. Those who should live must live.”

Keter disappeared like a mirage right before Taragon’s eyes. Taragon panicked and looked around, but there was no sign of him.

“Keter? Keter?!”

The Cross Association’s crossbow marksmen specialized in urban combat, pursuit, and stealth. Taragon, in particular, was the best at pursuit in Sephira, but there was no trace of Keter anywhere.

However, he didn’t think it was a dream like before. The ankle of a dead monster remained.

“What do you mean, ‘those who should live must live’…?”

“One down.”

Suddenly, Keter’s voice came from beside him. Taragon turned, but instead of Keter, he saw Caesar staring at him with a dazed expression.

“G-Grand Duke?”

“Caesar?”

“Am I dead? I was sure my head was cut off…”

Taragon and Eren had tried to draw attention to save Caesar, but even he had been caught by a monster. Chased by a bird with a beak like a sword, he was eventually caught and left to die.

Caesar had closed his eyes, but at that very moment, Keter appeared, saved him, and brought him to Taragon’s side.

The whole process happened too quickly. Caesar felt his body float, and when he opened his eyes, Taragon was in front of him.

This phenomenon continued. Cross Association marksmen, who Taragon thought were dead, were delivered to his side one after another.

“Garen! You’re alive!”

“Grand Duke? And Caesar?! Am I dead?”

The Cross Association marksmen had been scattered, either on the brink of death or in fierce battles with monsters. Keter had found and rescued all of them.

When the number reached ten—

Keter appeared before them.

“I’ve saved everyone I could.”

At Keter’s words, Taragon forced back his tears, clenched his fist to his chest, and said, “Thank you, Keter.”

At the mention of Keter, the Cross Association marksmen stirred.

“Keter? Could this be that Keter?”

“The one they call the Divine Archer…!”

“He looks a bit different from the portraits, but… it’s similar!”

Ten years had passed since Keter disappeared. During that time, many young Sephirans had become soldiers, and others had come from outside.

Those who had only heard of Keter’s incredible achievements couldn’t help but marvel at him.

Keter looked at those who were gazing at him in awe and said, “Follow me. The slowest one gets no food.”

Keter’s Office Tower, Underground Hideout.

Though covered in dust, the place was surprisingly intact. This was something even Keter hadn’t expected.

Moreover, a single sheet of paper was placed conspicuously in plain sight. Keter picked it up and read it.

-Thank you for everything. Take care.

-July 2, 1662

The handwriting was rough, but the thoughtfulness of letting him know when they left… It was clearly the work of the Black and White elders.

“1662…”

Keter had arrived in Requir in 1657. That meant the Black and White elders had stayed here for five years, managing the place.

‘Damn, I’m grateful, old men.’

There was another letter. It was from Ragnel, whom Keter had saved before going underground. Unlike the brief note from the Black and White elders, this one was densely packed with words.

-Keter. There’s no way a madman like you could die. I’ve written down everything I know about Requir’s current situation. I hope it’s helpful.

Ragnel had written down everything he had seen and heard about what was happening in Requir. Though not detailed, Keter found a phrase that put his mind at ease.

-The Mercenary Association and the White Lotus Association have joined hands. They’ve gathered the survivors of Requir and are heading to a safe place.

Oh, by the way, the representative of the Mercenary Association is Joyray, and the representatives of the White Lotus Association are Stella and Walt. I’m following them too. If you’re reading this, Keter, Joyray asked me to pass on a message.

‘That damn bastard.’

I wrote it as I heard it.

-April 7, 1661

“Well, well.”

Unfortunately, there was no mention of where they had gone. No coded message either. Perhaps they were being cautious in case someone else read it, or maybe even Ragnel didn’t know.

Despite the disappointment, Keter smiled. For some reason, he felt relieved knowing that Joyray, Stella, and Walt were alive.

Gurgle.

Someone’s stomach growled, echoing through the basement. Taragon awkwardly said, “I haven’t eaten anything for a week…”

“Same here.”

There was a food storage in this underground hideout.

But Keter didn’t have high hopes as he headed there. He had prepared long-term food supplies, but he hadn’t accounted for over ten years.

Moreover, this place had been occupied by the Black and White elders and Ragnel. There was no way any food or water would be left.

“There’s something.”

Not much. A sack and several glass bottles. The sack contained rough hardtack, and the bottles held a light pink liquid.

This wasn’t the food Keter had prepared. Someone had made new supplies.

“Hah.”

The hardtack was extremely dry and salty. The liquid in the bottles was diluted elixir.

Whether it was prepared by the Black and White elders or Ragnel, Keter expressed his gratitude to both and took the supplies upstairs.

“Oooh!”

Those who saw the food drooled. Seeing them regain their appetite even for the rough hardtack, Keter didn’t feel like teasing them.

“Let it melt slowly in your mouth. Don’t scrape the roof of your mouth.”

Keter, who looked like a fresh-faced youth, spoke to the battle-hardened soldiers as if soothing children.

But no one found it unnatural. To Sephira, Keter was a ‘god’ in the flesh.

Moreover, it was common knowledge that Transcendent Beings didn’t age much, and Keter was clearly a Transcendent Being. So, even when he spoke down to them, some even shed tears, feeling it was merciful.

Despite the dusty underground, the only food being dry, salty hardtack, and sour-tasting water, the Cross Association members acted as if they had reached heaven.

“Eat slowly, as Keter said.”

Even in the midst of this, Taragon shared his portion of hardtack with the other members.

Keter approached Taragon.

“Brother.”

“I’m fine without eating.”

“No, explain to me now. How many years have passed? And what happened?”

“Ah… right, that’s why I waited for you.”

Taragon hadn’t stayed in Requir’s mainland, risking his life, just to find Keter. The place where Keter had disappeared was Requir’s mainland. If he were to reappear, it was most likely there.

Informing Keter of Sephira’s and the world’s current state—that was Taragon’s mission.

“Keter. It’s been ten years since you disappeared. During that time, this country…”

Taragon didn’t ramble. He had practiced how to explain everything, believing Keter would surely be alive.

Thanks to that, Keter fully understood what had happened during the ten-year gap in just thirty minutes.

“…So, the main force of the World Union Army is advancing toward the Demon King Rukan, and we’re under attack by monsters?”

“Keh, kehkehkeh.”

After hearing everything, Keter wiped his forehead.

“Looks like you all had fun without me?”

“Keter. What the hell happened to you?”

“Some messed-up stuff happened.”

Keter summarized his situation in one sentence and stood up.

“Do you know the way from here to Sephira?”

“It’s possible if we’re not attacked. But why?”

“I’ll go ahead. You stay here for a day or two, then follow.”

“Wait, Keter.”

Taragon was about to tell Keter it was too dangerous but stopped himself. He suddenly remembered something similar happening before.

When they had tried to dissuade Keter from danger, Keter had said:

‘I’ll show you who’s more dangerous.’

After all, Keter had once killed a monster they couldn’t even scratch with a single strike.

“Looks like I’m in your debt again. Thank you.”

Taragon changed his words, and Keter smirked.

“Good that you know.”

And so, Keter set off on his journey home.

The city of Teresa, famous for its vast fruit orchards. Once bustling with merchants and full of life, it had now become a ghost town.

After Requir’s fog descended. The fruits, deprived of sunlight, couldn’t grow properly, and those that did grow became toxic, essentially turning into poison.

Moreover, its proximity to Requir was the biggest problem.

Though close on the map, the rugged mountains had previously kept it safe from Requir’s issues.

But after Requir’s fog took over, the monsters that emerged found the rugged mountains no obstacle.

Sephira had long advised Teresa’s residents to evacuate. It was too close to Requir and dangerous. Most residents heeded the advice and left, but some couldn’t abandon their hometown and stayed.

Count Jephyrus, who acted as the mayor, also didn’t leave the city. He vowed to protect the remaining citizens.

They held out remarkably well, thanks to their large stockpile of dried fruits.

Moreover, they hadn’t stayed out of sheer stubbornness. They had been working on crop improvement for years, and with food becoming extremely scarce, they focused on creating fruits that could grow in harsh environments.

And now, after seven years—

They had finally invented an apple that could grow in barren conditions.

The alchemist Tris, who discovered this, planned to take the apple seeds to Sephira. But the day before she was to leave, monsters attacked the city.

The monsters hadn’t originally targeted Teresa’s survivors. The human population was small, and the defenses they had built were dense and thick.

But this time, a hundred monsters descended upon Teresa. No matter how dense and thick the defenses were, they couldn’t stop the relentless monsters.

“My lord, take the seeds! Without them, all our efforts will be in vain!”

Regan, the knight commander of Jephyrus, shouted as he cut through the tentacles the monsters shot.

The young woman called the lord hurriedly grabbed the seed pouch. Her face was full of fear, but her actions were swift.

“Cover me!”

“Yes!”

“Haaah!”

Regan swung his sword with a shout. A massive sword aura manifested, momentarily pushing the monsters back, and Regan seized the opportunity.

“Don’t look back! Just focus on my back!”

Tris ran as Regan instructed, only looking at his back. She heard the desperate sounds of knights fighting behind her but didn’t look back.

The two barely escaped the city, panting. Regan, who had lost his eyes while breaking through the monster encirclement, spoke with his eyes closed.

“I sent an emergency request for help to Sephira, but it’s unclear if reinforcements will come. I prepared a hideout for such situations, so we’ll assess the situation there and then…”

“Re, Regan?”

“Why are you trembling?”

“There, there’s something over there.”

“That’s impossible. You must be seeing things. Though I’ve lost my sight, I’ve expanded my other senses. It’s just you and me here.”

“No, there’s really someone. A, a man.”

“Understood. Which direction?”

Regan thought Tris was hallucinating out of fear. So, he held his sword and moved toward where she pointed.

Though he had lost his sight, he was a 6-star Grandmaster. His other senses were enough to perceive the world.

‘She must have mistaken a tree for a person.’

But just in case, Regan enveloped himself in aura and moved forward, ready to strike at any moment.

“R, right in front of you!”

Swish!

At Tris’s words, Regan swung his sword like lightning toward whatever was in front of him.

It was a strike powerful enough to cut through thick trees or rocks, but—

Ting!

It was blocked. With a light, crisp sound.

“What?!”

Was he wrong? Was there really a person, or a monster?

Instead of retrieving his deflected sword, Regan let go and formed an aura sword to stab.

“You look familiar. Aren’t you the guy who fought Anis?”

Just as he thought he heard a voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar, Regan felt an intense pain in his forehead and fell backward.

Keter, who had knocked Regan out with a flick, looked perplexed.

“Didn’t expect him to go down in one hit.”

Originally, Keter was a master of controlling his strength. But the power he gained from breaking through Requir’s underground layers was more than he expected, making it hard to control.

“Kyaaaah!”

Tris screamed, thinking Regan was dead.

Keter’s expression twisted instantly. One of the things Keter hated most in the world was a woman’s scream.

“Shut up. Who are you?”

“P, please save me. I’ll give you everything I have.”

“Do I look like a bandit to you?”

“T, then who are you?”

“Sephira’s Solver.”

“Huh?”

Seeing Tris’s confused expression, Keter felt bitter.

‘Has it been ten years? Now they don’t even know Sephira’s Solver.’

After a moment of thought, Keter brought up another title.

“Do you know Sephira’s Divine Archer?”

“Of course! He’s the savior of this country, the spiritual pillar of Sephira, wise and merciful, the one who opened new horizons in archery…”

Though there was some exaggeration, Keter puffed out his chest and said, “Hohoho, that’s me.”

“…….”

Tris looked Keter up and down.

She was one of the Divine Archer’s ardent followers, but Keter was far from the image she had of the Divine Archer. He was boastful and cocky.

But since he had effortlessly subdued a 6-star Grandmaster, Tris decided to play along.

“If you’re really Sephira’s Divine Archer, please help me.”

“Ah, don’t worry. I was planning to help anyway.”

“R, really?”

Though his attitude was cocky, Tris began to believe he might really be the Divine Archer when he offered to help so readily. That is, until Keter’s next action.

“First, hand over everything you have.”

I thought you said you weren’t a bandit? Tris swallowed her words.

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