NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 387
Chapter 388. I’m the Crazy One in This Country (1)
A small banquet was prepared to celebrate Keter, who had returned after 10 years and resolved the crisis in the Southern Region.
Holding a banquet during a war was absurd, but Keter’s return and achievements were so monumental that no one dared to complain.
However, the banquet didn’t even get to start.
“Lord! The main force of the allied army has been utterly defeated!”
The urgent news brought by Nabakin left everyone in shock.
The main force of the world’s allied army was the most powerful force in the last 100 years of history. Even the enemy Demon King Rukan had used extreme guerrilla tactics, pulling back his main forces.
Without his main forces, Rukan was practically alone. Yet, the world’s allied army didn’t just lose—they were completely crushed.
The festive atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by fear and tension.
“What’s the point of just sitting here?”
Keter didn’t care. He enjoyed the food he had prepared, offering drinks to the stiffened crowd.
“People, you know, turn stupid when they’re hungry. So let’s fill our stomachs first.”
If anyone else had said this, they would’ve been scolded for not reading the room. But when Keter spoke, everyone silently started eating without a word.
However, the atmosphere became eerily strange as everyone ate in silence.
Just as Nabakin was about to sneak a bite of his favorite shrimp-apple pickle, Keter snatched the shrimp from him and said,
“You’ve got a briefing to do.”
“Ah, yes… ahem.”
Nabakin cleared his throat awkwardly and began explaining the situation.
“I’m not sure where to start, so I’ll just relay what I heard. In the Royal Capital where Demon King Rukan resides, there were eight Evil Gods and Malevolent Gods—twice as many as expected. The main force gave it their all but ultimately lost. Two Transcendent Beings died. 80,000 soldiers were instantly killed. 100,000 were severely injured. The Demon King’s army lost almost all of its monsters, but the Evil Gods and Malevolent Gods remain unharmed.”
“Cough.”
“Ahem.”
The grim news made those who were forcing themselves to eat groan in despair. But the bad news didn’t end there.
“We’ve almost wiped out the Monsters of the Demon Realm, but a new monster has appeared. It’s not yet clear, but we suspect it’s a Chimera—a fusion of monsters. They’re not as strong as the Monsters of the Demon Realm, but without Aura, they’re tough to kill, and they have Troll-level regeneration. The estimated number of Chimeras is… roughly 1 million.”
Clang!
Someone dropped a plate.
Just when they thought they had finally dealt with the Monsters of the Demon Realm, Chimeras had appeared. Even those who were nibbling at their food lost their appetite and put down their utensils.
Only Keter continued eating, muttering to himself.
“So, he didn’t start a war with the world for no reason, huh.”
Relying on the power of monsters. It’s something that would earn him scorn and condemnation from everyone.
But history is written by the victors. If Rukan wins, this world will see ‘evil’ as justice.
Of course, this was just Rukan’s thinking. Keter, who knew the full story, only felt pity for Rukan.
‘The Demon King isn’t Rukan—it’s the Grand Duke. The Evil Gods and Malevolent Gods are under his control, and the Chimeras are his creations too.’
Everyone here was convinced that Rukan had revealed his trump card.
But Keter knew. The real trump card hadn’t been played yet.
‘If the war drags on, ordinary humans won’t be able to endure it.’
Just looking at the expressions of the Sephira members around him was enough to see that. Just moments ago, they had been filled with hope and joy at Keter’s return.
But as soon as they heard the news that the war had entered a new phase, despair clouded their eyes. Regardless of victory or defeat, the mere thought of continuing this endless war filled them with frustration and pain.
‘And thanks to Ruquer’s fog, the quality of life has hit rock bottom.’
Sephira was a major family ruling the Southern Region, large enough to be considered a small nation. Yet, the food served at this banquet wasn’t top-tier. At best, it was mid-tier. If even the carefully prepared banquet food was like this, it was obvious what their daily meals were like.
War devastates people and society. Ten years of war was already too long, and now there was no end in sight.
‘At this point, some will start having second thoughts.’
The nations didn’t unite out of a sense of justice. They thought that by banding together, they could easily deal with Rukan and gain something in return.
But the situation had changed. Rukan’s forces were still strong and had room to spare. Monsters don’t complain about harsh environments. They don’t tire or despair.
But humans do. The moment they realize there’s no ‘hope of victory,’ division will begin. Some will selfishly prioritize their own safety and withdraw their armies, while others will betray and join the Demon King.
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of applause echoed through the despair-filled banquet hall. Of course, it was Keter clapping.
“Impressive. He’s really screwing us over in this war.”
This wasn’t sarcasm—it was genuine praise.
Even Keter, an enemy of the Demon King, was praising him, making the atmosphere even gloomier. But Keter wasn’t done.
“A fight ends when your body breaks, but a war ends when your will breaks. In that sense, Rukan has succeeded in completely screwing with our morale. If this keeps up, we’re all doomed.”
“Keter… that’s enough—”
Hisop couldn’t stand by and watch Keter crush their allies’ morale, so he tried to intervene. But Keter pushed his hand away and smirked.
“Of course, if it weren’t for me. Bring the drinks here. The strong stuff.”
“Wait, Keter, drinking during wartime? That’s…”
“Bro. Don’t you trust me?”
“I do.”
“Then trust me all the way.”
“…Fine. Bring it!”
Since Hisop also supported Keter, the servants brought in plenty of alcohol.
Keter was the first to raise his glass. The others, still slumped over, hesitantly followed suit.
Keter had a lot to say. But the longer the speech, the emptier it becomes. So, Keter summed it up in one sentence.
“Let’s go crazy with me.”
Gulp.
Keter downed his drink.
As everyone hesitated, unsure of what he meant—
Taragon followed suit, downing his drink, and then Hisop did the same. Once one person started, everyone began drinking.
The gloomy banquet hall heated up. The alcohol drove away their despair and ignited their anger toward Rukan.
Keter smirked at them and said,
“Let’s show them which family in this country is the craziest.”
As news of the main force’s defeat spread to the eastern part of the Lilian Kingdom, unsettling movements began to emerge.
The Marquis Mejai, a renowned swordsmanship family in the east, was on the verge of changing sides.
He let out a bitter laugh as he looked at the meal served for lunch.
“Hah, hahaha.”
It wasn’t a soup filled with large chunks of meat and potatoes. Only a single tiny potato, no bigger than a pinky finger, was in it.
This wasn’t a one-time thing. Meals like this had been served for the past three months.
Marquis Mejai closed his eyes. Rationally, he knew. The only reason he was even getting this meager meal was because he was the lord and head of the family.
“If I’m getting treated like this, the meals for the lower ranks must be even worse.”
It was absurd, but the Mejai family had run out of food. They couldn’t even get common potatoes, let alone meat.
“The main force was defeated. We’re out of food…”
Tap, tap, tap…
Instead of eating the soup, Marquis Mejai tapped the table with his spoon. He was coldly calculating something.
“The crops from our territory are scarce, but even half of that is being sent to the main force.”
The Mejai family’s territory was famous for being the most fertile in the east. It was even called the ‘Lifeblood of the East.’
Even under Ruquer’s fog, which made crops grow poorly, Mejai was the only place that could independently supply food.
But that became their burden. The Mejai family was responsible for supplying food to Crown Prince Rukan’s army.
“If we cut off the food supply to Rukan, we won’t have any shortages.”
The fact that he referred to the prince by name instead of his title showed how much his loyalty had wavered.
“But Rukan can’t attack us, right?”
The main force had already been defeated. With so many injured, how could they possibly take on a major family like Mejai?
“For the sake of the future… a little criticism is nothing.”
That said, Mejai had no intention of betraying the country entirely. He simply thought it was inefficient to waste food on unnecessary fronts.
“We need to tighten our belts. That’s the quickest path to victory.”
As long as the casualties aren’t from the Mejai family, it’s fine. If the Mejai family joins later, who could refuse?
Without Mejai’s food, everyone would starve.
“Rukan’s obsession with providing food to the civilians was his downfall. I need to get my act together.”
Just as Marquis Mejai, who had decided to ‘betray’ temporarily, was about to start eating again—
Bang!
“Lord! Forgive my rudeness, but I have urgent news!”
A knight burst through the door without permission, sweat pouring down his forehead.
“Calm down. What’s going on?”
“An attack! Sephira has brought an army and is invading!”
“…What?”
Marquis Mejai put down his spoon, his face showing disbelief.
“Are you insane? Say that again. Who’s invading?”
“Sephira! The renowned archery family from the Southern Region!”
“Huh?”
If anyone were to invade, it would surely be the Demon King’s army. But Sephira?
Sephira and Mejai were allies. Of course, everyone knew their alliance wasn’t eternal, but with a common enemy like the Demon King, there was no reason to fight.
“Am I tired, or is Sephira insane? Is this some kind of trick or disguise?”
“No. They’ve surrounded the city and are demanding our surrender.”
“Haha… Really? How many did they bring?”
“About 5,000.”
“5,000… I’ll have to see this for myself.”
5,000 was practically Sephira’s entire force. Marquis Mejai couldn’t believe it.
Sephira had left their base and brought their entire army to attack the Mejai family.
Who would believe such a thing?
“Is this Rukan’s scheme? I need to be careful.”
Marquis Mejai prepared for the worst, heading to his private armory to fully equip himself. Just as he reached for his Level 5 Magical Tool armor—
Thud.*
The door he had left open closed behind him. Marquis Mejai drew his sword and turned around. A man stood leaning against the closed door.
“I knew you’d come here.”
Marquis Mejai was terrified by the man who had completely hidden his presence, but he didn’t show it and asked,
“…Who are you? Did Rukan send you?”
The man pointed at himself with his thumb and said,
“I’m the crazy one in this country.”