I’m the Madman of This Family

Chapter 387. The Appearance of the Divine Archer (5)

After hundreds of monsters were dealt with—

The rescue forces, without anyone telling them to, all knelt down.

It wasn’t a posture of submission to power. It was the posture of a devout follower welcoming a god.

“Divine Archer, please forgive me for doubting you.”

“So the rumors were true! The Divine Archer is truly alive!”

“Is that the legendary archery that doesn’t require a bow, the Celestial Infinity Technique?”

Keter placed his hands on their shoulders and smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s right, that’s right. I am Keter. More handsome than the rumors, right?”

Swoosh.

Those touched by Keter’s hand trembled. It wasn’t just trembling from joy.

“M-my chest pain is gone?”

“My severed finger has regenerated. What is this?”

“The rumors that Keter has reached the pinnacle of medical arts—they weren’t just rumors!”

“If this man isn’t a god, then who is?!”

Every time Keter’s hand touched someone, all sorts of injuries were healed in the blink of an eye.

This was thanks to the two divine artifacts Keter possessed: the Necronomicon’s “Book of Creation” and Dracula’s blood authority.

This wasn’t some evil black magic; it was a pure miracle that required no sacrifices.

Of course, there were still risks. Regenerating lost organs or body parts required divine power.

After healing all the injuries of the rescue forces, Keter suddenly slapped his forehead and said,

“I almost forgot about that guy.”

Keter walked over to where he had fought Asura Vector, then plunged his hand deep into the ground. Like pulling out a ripe radish, what emerged was none other than Jordic.

“Captain?!”

The rescue forces had thought Jordic was dead. After all, after Vector’s strike, only a spear remained, with no trace of his body.

Of course, Keter had saved him.

Just before Jordic was struck, Keter used the power of the Five Elements Divine Artifact, Toban, to create a depression in the ground. It happened so quickly that no one noticed, making it seem like Jordic had died.

But Keter, too lazy to explain, simply laid the unconscious Jordic on the ground. His heart wasn’t beating, and his body was cold. To anyone else, he would’ve looked like a corpse, but not to Keter.

“Your brother’s here. How long are you going to keep sleeping?”

Whack!

Keter slapped Jordic’s solar plexus with his palm. The action itself seemed careless, but what followed was nothing short of a miracle.

“Huh?!”

The “corpse” that was Jordic suddenly sprang up. He looked at Keter’s face right in front of him and let out a hollow laugh.

“This must be hell. Seeing your face, Keter, I guess I really did die ten years ago. But you came to greet me? You must’ve really missed me…”

Whack!

“Aaaah!”

“Nonsense needs a good beating.”

Jordic, who had just been flicked on the forehead, grabbed his head with his right arm. He thought to himself,

‘This… this is weird. I’m dead, so why do I feel pain? Wait, where is this?’

Naturally, Jordic had thought he was dead, but the pain snapped him back to reality, and he realized he was still on the battlefield where he had been fighting.

Seeing his subordinates looking at him with tears in their eyes, Jordic fully realized that this was reality.

Then, Keter’s warm voice came from beside him.

“Jordic. I’m curious why you called this hell when you saw me. I thought I’d lived a good life, but to you, was I a devil?”

“W-wait, Keter. Our Baydant family has become a vassal of Sephira. So…”

“So, what?”

Jordic wanted to say, “I’m on your side,” but his lack of vocabulary made him stumble over his words.

Swoosh.

When Keter reached out his hand, Jordic thought he was going to hit him.

But he didn’t defend himself or dodge. He hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, but he knew. The one who had killed Vector and dealt with all the monsters was none other than Keter.

Ten years ago, before his disappearance, Keter had been Sephira’s hero and pillar. If Keter wanted to hit him, Jordic would’ve considered it an honor.

But this was Jordic’s misunderstanding.

“I’m glad you’re alive too.”

“…?”

“You’ve been through a lot, Jordic. And thank you.”

“…!”

Keter wasn’t trying to hit him; he was offering his hand.

Jordic was stunned. He rubbed his eyes with one hand. This was clearly reality, but Keter’s mouth was speaking words of comfort and gratitude.

“Is this heaven, not hell?”

“Ha, ten years ago or now, you’re still as clueless as ever.”

Keter grabbed Jordic’s awkwardly outstretched hand and pulled him up. Then he grabbed Jordic’s face.

Jordic was more bothered by the unbearable itch in his left arm than the fact that his face was being grabbed.

Crackle, creak!

But soon, the strange sound coming from his left arm forced him to stay still.

His severed left arm was “regenerating.” Starting from the bone, then the blood, flesh, muscles, and skin—it took less than 10 seconds.

“It’s my first time doing this, so I’m not sure if it’s perfect. Try moving it.”

“…It feels a bit awkward.”

“That’s normal.”

Keter shouted to those around him.

“Your bodies are fine, and your commander is alive. What are you all standing around for? Get moving!”

I didn’t save you so you could relax. I saved you so you could suffer more.

That was Keter’s intention, but those who were already captivated by him interpreted it differently.

—Sephira is in crisis. There’s no time to stand around idly.

Even Jordic misunderstood, so he picked up his beloved Gungnir and said,

“Keter, lead us for now. Not just here, but all of Sephira is in danger.”

“I know. Taragon told me. I’ll deal with the monsters at the cathedral and then join you. You all regroup with the main force.”

“Regroup? Then what about you?”

“It’s unfair, but from your perspective, I’ve done nothing for ten years. It seems like many of you don’t even know my face, so I’ll have to remind you. What kind of man I am.”

Though his intentions were impure, it was ultimately for Sephira. Jordic thought that was just Keter’s way.

‘I wonder if we’d even be any help to Keter.’

Following him would only get in the way. Keter, without directly saying it, was kindly hinting at that. Jordic almost found himself respecting Keter.

“Understood. We’ll safely return the injured from the cathedral to the main force. Keter, take care of yourself too.”

“Acting all grown up.”

And just like that, Keter, who had suddenly appeared, dealt with the monsters, saved everyone’s lives, and then vanished as suddenly as he had come.

“I’ve heard many stories about the Divine Archer, but they were all lies. The Divine Archer is truly a god.”

“How can someone so humble and considerate of us even exist?”

Even after Keter left, those who had become fervent believers were still lingering, unable to leave the scene.

Jordic, who knew Keter well, snapped them back to reality.

“Hurry up and move! That guy may be the Divine Archer, but… he’s also the craziest man in this country.”

Of course, no one believed him. They just thought Jordic was joking to lighten the mood—but that didn’t last long.

Three days after Keter’s return.

An unprecedented peace had come to Sephira.

Thousands of monsters. Even the monsters, each at least a 6-star threat, had all been dealt with by Keter.

After three days and nights of tirelessly roaming the southern region, slaughtering monsters, Keter rubbed his temples.

“This is a bit exhausting.”

He hadn’t rested even right before escaping from Ruquer’s underground. And as soon as he emerged, he had been roaming the vast land alone, hunting monsters and healing the injured.

Even as a Transcendent Being, the fatigue and soreness were palpable. But while Keter was physically exhausted, mentally, he felt a sense of exhilaration.

“It was worth laying the groundwork.”

Every person he saved looked up to him with reverence. In the past, even when he saved people, they were afraid of him. Now, they approached him willingly.

“It’s no exaggeration to say I’m the real power behind Sephira now.”

Even if he grabbed Hisop by the collar and said, “I feel like becoming the lord,” he was confident everyone would support him.

Of course, he had no intention of actually doing that.

“That’s like sprinkling dirt on perfectly kneaded dough.”

Keter couldn’t understand it. Why would anyone willingly take on such a heavy responsibility?

“Power without responsibility. Isn’t that the best?”

After sitting and resting for a while, Keter stood up. There were no more monsters hiding, and no more humans to save. It was time to go home.

It wasn’t far. Even at a light jog, he’d be there in five minutes.

But Keter didn’t feel like running.

“This distance… it’s the same path I took from Ruquer to Sephira.”

Though the fog obscured the view and the once lush trees were now bare, Keter remembered this scenery.

“Hah, I can still see old man Jacques flailing around.”

He had ridden in a rickety carriage, looking out at the grasslands and blue sky, vowing to make it all his. And to kill Queen Lilian, who stood in his way.

“Turns out Queen Lilian was just a pawn, and now I don’t even know where she is.”

With Queen Lilian gone, there was a sense of unease that perhaps, unlike before his regression, they could live in peace without fighting—

“But of course, those guys wouldn’t let that happen.”

Even though Queen Lilian was gone, her children, Crown Prince Rukan and Second Prince Rakan, had tried to finish things, leading to this mess.

“Well… in the end, they’re all being used. What a world.”

And the mastermind behind it all was none other than his own mother, Akra, which made Keter smile.

“They’re fighting under the guise of noble causes… but it’s too complicated, so let’s just kill them all.”

In the end, that was the easiest and most certain solution.

As Keter muttered to himself while walking, he suddenly stopped. He had been walking slowly, but before he knew it, he had arrived at the main gate of Sephira’s headquarters.

Eleven years ago. When he had entered Sephira with Jacques and the carriage, no one had come to greet him.

But now—

Creak.

The gate opened on its own.

In truth, Keter already knew. Even if he wanted to pretend not to notice, his Transcendent senses made him aware of everyone beyond the gate.

“Ah, seriously, why is this happening?”

Inside the open gate, hundreds of people had gathered. Some were those Keter had saved, others were not.

But their expressions were all the same.

Joy, welcome, happiness.

And among them, some were even shedding tears.

“Keter…!”

Hisop had also come to greet him. Of course, there were many more familiar faces behind him.

Jacques, the butler.

Gasilious, the Lunar Knight Commander.

Taragon, the fourth of Sephira.

Pekda of the Big Dipper.

Catherine, who had learned Demon Archery from Keter.

Denison, the creator of Sticker Magic.

Even Orion, the self-proclaimed hermit master.

It wasn’t just Sephira’s people.

Burgundy, vice-leader of the Mercenary Association.

Quret of the Blood Ten.

Jordic of Baydant.

Minerva, the Eastern Shield…

It was astonishing how so many people had gathered to welcome Keter.

Keter had sensed that people were waiting for him, but seeing them genuinely waiting and welcoming him made him feel unexpectedly emotional.

“What’s everyone doing here? Why are you all gathered?”

Keter, feeling oddly embarrassed, tried to act grumpy, but—

Hug.*

Hisop embraced him. Then came Jacques, Catherine, Gasilious.

Hundreds of people quietly welcoming one person’s return—the scene was almost solemn. At first, Keter felt awkward and strange, but—

“I’m a bit late.”

In the end, Keter accepted their warm welcome.

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