Switch Mode
You can get fewer ads when you log in and remove all ads by subscribing.

Chapter 77

Episode 77. If You’re Curious, Bring 5 Million Gold (4)

Luke first learned what sourness was by eating an orange. At that time, Luke declared that there was no food in the world as sour as an orange.

Then, much later, he discovered something called a lemon. A lemon, so sour that just thinking about it made his mouth water.

Luke had to rewrite the definition of “sourness” he had known until then.

Lemons were truly sour.

Oranges were actually sweet.

And now, at this very moment, Luke was relearning the formula of oranges and lemons.

The “Ruquer” he felt beside Keter was like an orange.

But once separated from Keter, it became a “lemon.”

Even without the ability to sense misfortune, the sticky gaze he felt was filled with all sorts of dirty emotions.

His misfortune detection ability seemed to be broken. Waves of misfortune were crashing in from all directions.

This was the “real” Ruquer.

“Damn it, my head hurts so much I could die.”

A casual remark spat out in frustration.

In Sephira, it could have been dismissed as just talking to himself, but here it was different.

The way people looked at Luke had changed. It was as if prey had admitted it was in poor condition.

Knowing the viciousness of Sephira, Luke had already gripped his bow and arrows, but he couldn’t relax and look around.

‘I understand the intention to train me, but… this feels like being pushed off a cliff.’

He subtly warned the Ruquerians circling him with a glance. He made it clear that he wasn’t easy prey, that he was aware of them.

But that was all. For now, the warning worked, but it couldn’t last forever.

‘What kind of city has no signs… and such a complicated layout?’

Walking aimlessly wasn’t a wise choice.

Luke took a deep breath.

He acknowledged first that he wasn’t ordinary. His ability to detect misfortune could be used broadly.

‘If I want to know about the Red Comet, the best way is to go to the Hunter Guild and ask.’

The Hunter Guild was a place where monster hunters gathered.

He had heard that the Mercenary Guild had once tried to subdue the Red Comet but failed. If so, the Hunter Guild must be somewhat involved.

The problem was, where was the Hunter Guild?

‘I don’t need signs.’

Luke firmly set his goal. To the Hunter Guild.

‘Should I go that way?’

Luke asked himself.

Then “misfortune” answered. Not that way.

It was incredibly difficult to catch the exact signal amidst the barrage of misfortunes, but Luke barely managed to pick it up.

His mental energy was drained ten times more than usual. On top of that, hyenas targeting him were lurking around.

Luke’s confidence wavered slightly. If Keter had been watching over him, it might have been different, but being left alone in such a place made him feel scared.

During his time as a knight of Sephira, he rarely acted alone, and even when he did, he roamed bustling areas, not a lawless city like this.

‘I’m not a coward, but anyone would be scared in this situation. Damn it.’

After comforting himself, Luke took another deep breath and reoriented himself. He began to use his “ability” to the fullest to figure out where to go.

The pace was painfully slow, but Luke didn’t mind.

Slow is fine. What’s important is going the right way. That’s what Jacques always told him.

Then.

Luke felt an uncontrollable wave of misfortune growing behind him. He immediately loaded an arrow and turned around.

‘Blocked by the crowd… I can’t see.’

If he aimed the arrow, they should at least pretend to dodge, but the crowd just passed by as if nothing was happening.

Luke took a deep breath and released the bowstring.

The arrow shot toward the crowd. Only then did the crowd scatter in surprise.

*Clang!*

The aura-infused arrow was blocked by something.

Luke immediately nocked another arrow and scolded himself.

‘The opponent is using aura too. I don’t have many arrows, I shouldn’t waste them like this. If I can’t be sure, I shouldn’t shoot.’

He decided not to think about who the attacker was. He could think about that after subduing them.

But the mysterious attacker didn’t charge at Luke. They disappeared back into the crowd.

Luke frowned.

He knew where they were, but not exactly.

Chasing them into the crowd was out of the question. He was an archer, not a swordsman.

But it was also impossible to accurately target the opponent amidst so many people. The opponent seemed aware of this, using the crowd as a shield.

‘They didn’t attack me impulsively.’

Luke sighed involuntarily.

His original goal was to gather information about the Red Comet. But he hadn’t taken a few steps before his feet were tied.

‘So this is what it feels like to be alone.’

Beyond loneliness, Luke felt in his bones that he was surrounded by enemies and had to protect himself.

‘Keter. You’ve been living alone in such a place since childhood.’

Just a little, but Luke felt he had come to understand Keter.

‘I feel like an idiot for thinking of leaving Sephira right now. Who do I think I am to roam this harsh world alone?’

Luke set Keter as his goal.

Becoming as strong as Keter was too far off, but being strong enough to land a hit seemed sufficient.

‘But that would be after solving this current problem.’

Keter must be busy traveling all over Ruquer to find the Red Comet. Wasting time like this was like burdening Keter with everything.

*Tap tap tap!*

Luke, who had been walking cautiously, started to run. He planned to shake off the pursuers. He didn’t have time to fight these mysterious attackers.

While Luke and the mercenaries played tag, what was Keter doing?

He was wandering around Ruquer. As Luke expected, was he diligently searching for clues about the Red Comet?

Keter stopped in front of a fruit vendor, picked up an apple, and said,

“I told you not to put orc oil on the apples. Eating this will give you a stomachache. If you want them to look shiny, use linseed oil. Just because I was away for a few days, you don’t listen?”

He lectured the vendors who had been napping in the square.

That was Keter’s next move.

* * *

The mercenary Hansen couldn’t take it anymore.

He could somehow understand napping in the square. After being attacked by mercenaries, selling the magical tools they had was also understandable.

But next, shouldn’t he really be looking for the Red Comet?

Yet what he was doing was grabbing merchants by the collar and shaking them.

“You thought I wouldn’t come back, huh? It’s been a while since I flipped a table!”

“Ahhh! Stop it!”

Keter overturned the fruit vendor’s basket.

The fruit vendor, struggling against Keter, looked pitiful, but the fruits he brought were likely stolen or taken from someone else.

“Hahaha! Scatter, apples!”

Hansen blocked an apple flying toward him and shouted,

“Keter! This isn’t the time for this!”

Keter, holding a box of apples above his head, looked at Hansen.

Hansen had shouted out of frustration, but under Keter’s gaze, he felt like he had been plunged into icy water.

“I-I’ll help you find the Red Comet. I’ve fought that guy before.”

Hansen barely managed to say his piece, breathing heavily.

“What are you talking about?”

Keter scattered the remaining apples and smashed the box with his foot. The apples were already gone. The onlookers had taken them all.

“Don’t mess with food. This is the last time I’ll let it slide.”

After delivering his final warning to the fruit vendor, Keter started walking down the street again.

Hansen watched Keter walk away.

“Did he… not understand me?”

He must have misunderstood Hansen’s offer to fight together as just having fought the Red Comet before. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ignored him.

Hansen ran ahead of Keter and calmly said,

“I misspoke earlier. I’ve fought the Red Comet, but I was also part of a pursuit team that chased him. I know how to find him. I’ll tell you……”

“Hmm.”

Keter frowned.

How could there be someone in Ruquer who dared to lecture him?

‘There was no one like this in my past life. Why?’

Most people who blocked his path were either idiots or scammers.

But this guy wants to help me.

Ah, maybe it’s like that?

“I don’t spend money on that.”

“I’m not trying to make money off you.”

“Do you owe me anything? No. You’re not in my ledger.”

“Keter. I don’t even know why I’m doing this. Honestly, I think you’d be a better branch manager than Cork. That’s why I want to actively help you. That’s all.”

“Ah, that kind of meaning.”

There was someone like that in Sephira too. A knight who wanted to impress him. His name was… Haribo, I think. I remember.

“I don’t need it. I’ll handle it myself.”

“But the Red Comet isn’t an easy target……”

“I get your appeal. Stop talking back. Normally, I’d start with a punch, but ugh.”

Keter’s appearance was that of a young man, but his actual age was eighteen, not even having had his coming-of-age ceremony.

But inside, he was a seasoned veteran with fifty years of life experience. The hot-blooded days of throwing punches at the slightest provocation were long gone.

It wasn’t that he had become more patient, but that he had punched so much that he was bored of it.

Knowing that indiscriminate violence ultimately lowers the quality of fun, Keter, who had learned to restrain himself, gestured to Hansen.

“Leave while I’m in a good mood.”

“…Understood.”

Hansen quickly stepped aside. He didn’t want to risk his life to help Keter.

Watching Keter walk away, Hansen let out a deep sigh.

“How on earth does he plan to find the Red Comet……”

Hansen was too curious about Keter’s true intentions.

“Ugh, I can’t stand the curiosity.”

Hansen began to tail Keter. It was less tailing and more just following behind.

Having fought the Red Comet before, Hansen was too curious. How exactly would Keter find him, and how would he fight?

‘Who is the strongest among the five great madmen of Ruquer?’

It’s a question that always comes up among Ruquerians. But no one clearly stands out.

Opinions vary. Some say the ability user Marhan is undoubtedly the strongest, while many others say Sword Demon Walt, who defeated a six-star Grandmaster, is the strongest. Bombmaster Ragnon and Chain Scythe Jenny also have many supporters.

But no one says Keter is number one.

At best, Keter is considered a “troublesome guy,” far from being strong, as everyone agrees.

In the end, Marhan and Walt were considered evenly matched. Walt actually fought the Red Comet to a standstill but ultimately let him escape.

But what if Keter succeeded in capturing the Red Comet?

“That would mean Keter is stronger than the Sword Demon.”

Of course, fighting monsters and fighting humans are different stories, but if Keter succeeded where Walt failed, it would certainly be significant.

Hansen skipped meals and followed Keter all day. And only at night did he finally realize.

“Keter… has no intention of finding the Red Comet!”

* * *

Hunter Guild, Ruquer Branch.

A young man walked in through the already open door.

Unlike the mercenaries, the hunters glanced at the young man and then looked away.

“Is this… the Hunter Guild?”

Luke, exhausted, looked around and asked.

It took him a full three hours to get here. Not because it was far, but because he kept getting delayed by attackers appearing out of nowhere.

Fortunately, there were signs of being attacked, but no wounds. His ability to reflect attacks had automatically activated.

But Luke’s mental energy was completely drained. He stood still, waiting for a response. But no answer came.

Ignored.

Everyone was ignoring him.

“I came to ask about the Red Comet.”

Normally, Luke would start by explaining that he was a knight of Sephira, but he was too tired and got straight to the point.

Only then did the hunters show interest in Luke.

“Who are you to look for the Red Comet?”

One person stood up. A middle-aged hunter who, like Luke, seemed to use a bow.

“Before that, has Keter been here?”

“The Solver hasn’t come here.”

“My name is Luke. I’m a knight of Sephira. Do you know about the Red Comet?”

“Another crazy one, huh. Why is a knight of Sephira looking for the Red Comet?”

When the other party responded harshly, Luke took it as a positive sign. This man must know something about the Red Comet.

But he couldn’t explain everything from start to finish. He had that much sense.

“I can’t go into details, but I plan to capture him.”

“Talk sense. Why would the prestigious Sephira come to Ruquer to hunt a named monster? Honor or not, you won’t be able to return.”

Luke scolded himself for habitually introducing himself as a knight of Sephira. That was something you shouldn’t do in Ruquer.

“You’re right. It just happened that way. Now, about the Red Comet’s information……”

He vaguely brushed it off and took out ten gold coins from his pocket.

The middle-aged man chuckled at the sight of the gold.

“Interesting. A knight of Sephira comes alone to our guild and asks for information on the Red Comet. Not even a prophet could predict this.”

The middle-aged man took the gold, put it in his pocket, and turned his back.

“Follow me. I’ll tell you about the Red Comet. It’s not a big deal, heh.”

Watching the middle-aged man walk away with a self-deprecating laugh, Luke hesitated slightly.

‘Things are going too smoothly.’

This was none other than Ruquer. How many fights and pickpockets had he endured to get here?

Yet they were willing to give information so easily? Even naive Luke couldn’t help but doubt.

But now, he had no choice but to follow. If he couldn’t get information from the Hunter Guild, where else could he get it?

Though utterly exhausted, Luke raised his guard again and followed the middle-aged man.

“Here, the information you wanted on the Red Comet. Read it to your heart’s content. But you can’t take it with you. Read it here and leave.”

What Luke had worried about didn’t happen. It wasn’t a trap. The middle-aged man readily handed over a thick book containing information on the Red Comet.

It wasn’t fake or a scam. It was a detailed log of the Red Comet’s pursuit.

“Thank you.”

“I should be thanking you.”

“…?”

The middle-aged man said something cryptic and left.

Left alone in the room, Luke ignored the man’s words and focused on reading the log.

The log was filled with hunters’ jargon, making it hard to understand, but he could roughly infer the meaning.

The log meticulously recorded times and places, with parts that needed interpretation, so it took considerable time to read thoroughly.

Before he knew it, it was almost dark outside.

Luke closed the last page.

Then he stared blankly into space.

The log was real and informative. That’s why an even bigger problem arose.

“It’s impossible to capture the Red Comet in two days……”

The Red Comet pursuit team mentioned in the log had fifty members, each a veteran. Even they took two months to find the Red Comet.

Trial and error could significantly reduce the time, but finding him in two days was still impossible.

“I need advice. Those who’ve done it before must know a better way.”

Luke also learned about the Red Comet’s unprecedented strength, but he thought Keter’s Amaranth and Mana Arrow could handle it.

Most importantly, he needed to find him first to even have a chance to fight.

Luke came out to the lobby and immediately looked for the middle-aged man.

“Finally out. It’s closing time. Get out.”

“Wait a minute. I read the log. But it takes too long. Isn’t there a way to compress the time? You’ve done it before, and you’re a veteran, right?”

“You, do you really plan to capture the Red Comet?”

“Of course.”

“Heh heh heh, since you came all this way, I’ll tell you something special. Give up! It’s impossible.”

“I’m not asking you to fight. Just help me find him. I’ll pay any amount.”

“It’s meaningless. Even if you spend tens of thousands of gold, no one can find the Red Comet.”

“What do you mean? You can’t find him, as if he’s disappeared……”

“You’re so naive. Did you really think you could buy information on an A-class named monster, the Red Comet, for 10 gold?”

The middle-aged man’s words were full of mockery. The other hunters also shook their heads in disbelief.

Luke’s heart raced. He didn’t want to believe it, but… he realized what the man was saying.

“Are you saying, perhaps.”

“Yes, the Red Comet disappeared without a trace after the first failed subjugation. Do you think we gave up on the wounded Red Comet? We tried dozens of times, but the result was the same. Now you understand? Why I gave you the information on the Red Comet for 10 gold?”

“Because finding him is impossible. It doesn’t matter.”

“Understood? Now get out. Our Hunter Guild can’t help you.”

“Understood.”

Luke obediently left the guild. There was nothing to gain by making a scene here.

“I got the information, but……”

It only added more reasons why Keter was bound to lose.

“You know you can’t find him by ordinary means. It’s meaningful information.”

Even trying to think positively, negative emotions took over.

After tonight, there would be at most a day and a half left. He had to find the Red Comet within that time.

It was overwhelming, but he had to find Keter and share the information he had gathered.

‘Keter didn’t come to the Hunter Guild. He must have something up his sleeve, right?’

Frankly, Luke didn’t care if Keter failed to subjugate the Red Comet or even if he failed to participate in the Southern Sword Tournament.

Though they were partners and friends, they were still separate individuals. The fact that Keter, the main person involved, was so relaxed made it even harder to watch.

‘Is that why? That’s why I’m more anxious and working harder.’

The night deepened, and there was no place left to gather information. Luke headed to Keter’s office.

And someone was tailing Luke. A tail that Luke’s misfortune detection couldn’t catch.


Tired of ads? Subscribe for just $2 to unlock all locked chapters and remove all ads. Login or Signup to subscribe.
You can get fewer ads when logging in and remove all ads by subscribing for just $2 per month.
I’m the Madman of This Family

I’m the Madman of This Family

Status: Completed
Keter, the Fixer and Madman of the Lawless City, finds himself transported back to his younger days as an illegitimate child of a once-great archery family doomed to annihilation. “If I’ve been given a second chance and can’t even save my family, I might as well drown myself in a bowl of water.” For my family? No, for my freedom!

Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Options

not work with dark mode
Reset