Chapter 2

Episode 2. An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth

Keter’s Solver Office.

“Brother. It’s been exactly a year since you returned from Sephira.”

The boy who called Keter “Brother” held a cigarette in his left hand, despite his youthful appearance.

“Has it already been that long?”

“You said you’d tell me what happened in Sephira.”

“You remembered. But what can I say? All I did in Sephira was eat, sleep, and play.”

“Well, you didn’t come back empty-handed, did you?”

“After a year, they gave me an Artifact. I left as soon as I got it.”

There were more stories to tell, but they were neither interesting nor moving, so Keter didn’t feel like sharing them.

For Keter, the year in Sephira was something he could easily forget. He had cut ties with the family when he left.

“But why did you come back to Ruquer? You could have lived as a direct descendant of a prestigious family in Sephira.”

“What’s the point of all that? It’s boring.”

“Now that I think about it, you seem like the type to commit suicide if the world gets too boring.”

“I’d rather just grow old and die.”

“What about the Artifact you got from Sephira? Was it genuine?”

“Yeah. It lets me leave Ruquer whenever I want.”

Keter said it casually, but it was a bombshell statement that would shock anyone from Ruquer.

An Artifact that lets you “leave Ruquer at will”? Even the Grand Duke, the ruler of Ruquer and a major figure in the underworld, would covet such a treasure.

“If you can leave, why stay in Ruquer? The outside world is much bigger than here.”

Maknun had been Keter’s subordinate for a long time. He was practically a part of Keter’s body.

As such, he prided himself on knowing Keter well, but he couldn’t understand why Keter would stay in Ruquer when he could leave.

Keter’s answer was simple and straightforward.

“Nowhere is as fun as Ruquer.”

“Wow. You’re really insane. Other Ruquerians would sell their souls just to leave.”

“I wouldn’t even take their souls.”

“That’s true.”

With his curiosity satisfied, Maknun quickly moved on to more mundane topics.

“Brother. There are a few interesting requests that came in.”

“Don’t care, today’s a day off.”

“You took a day off yesterday too.”

“I’ll do it again tomorrow.”

“So, we’re taking the whole week off?”

“Good idea. Let’s do that.”

The two of them got along well.

* * *

Keter thought his ties with Sephira were over after returning to Ruquer.

But his ties with Sephira were cursed, and curses don’t break just because you ignore them.

Oren came to find Keter again.

It had been five years since their last meeting, but there was no time for a reunion.

Oren was on the brink of death—no, he was practically a corpse. It was a miracle he had managed to make it to Ruquer in that state.

“Young Master Keter… Please… This is the last message… from the Lord…”

Oren handed Keter a tightly folded letter and then passed away.

Feeling the urgency, Keter read the letter first.

-Keter, my son.

I must start by apologizing. I tried to protect you from the Queen, but things didn’t go as planned.

I thought Ruquer would be safer, so I let you go, but judging by the Queen’s attitude of attacking Sephira under false pretenses, Ruquer won’t be safe either. Knowing the Queen’s personality, she won’t be satisfied until all of Sephira’s bloodline is dead.

Read the enclosed letter in the dark. It contains a location only visible to Sephira’s eyes. There, I’ve gathered Sephira’s secret archery techniques and treasures.

I don’t expect you to seek revenge. Don’t oppose the Queen. She’s a being beyond human comprehension. Run and hide. Use the treasures as funds for your escape, and use the secret archery techniques as bargaining chips if you’re captured.

Finally, I’m sorry for calling you back to the family and then ignoring you. I thought it was best for you not to be entangled with us. In the end, it was a meaningless act, and all I have left is regret.

I should have told you this in person, but I’m conveying it through this letter. I love you. Please survive.

“……”

After reading the entire letter, Keter’s eyes trembled. Maknun, sensing something was wrong, spoke up.

“Brother, what’s it about?”

Keter silently handed the letter to Maknun, who read it and started trembling.

“B-Brother. So, Basil, the Lord of House Sephira, is your real father… No, that’s not the important part. We need to hide immediately! The Queen is the type to send an army to Ruquer and still have more to spare!”

This is insane.

Sending an army to a place you can’t escape from once you enter.

But the Queen of this country, Lilian, is ruthless enough to do just that.

Keter knelt down. He closed Oren’s eyes and lifted his body. Maknun grabbed Keter’s arm, trying to stop him.

“Brother! There’s no time for this! We need to hide deep underground or escape Ruquer immediately. If we flee to the Empire, even Lilian won’t be able to do anything.”

“Maknun. Look me in the eyes.”

“Huh?”

“A man who risked his life for me has died. Don’t insult him by calling it a ‘distraction’ to give him a proper burial.”

There was no sunny land in Ruquer, but Keter buried Oren in the best possible place and dusted off his hands.

“And then what? Hide underground or flee to the Empire?”

“Brother. You’re not thinking of opposing the Queen, are you?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t? My motto is ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'”

“You don’t have to go that far for Sephira!”

Maknun knew. Keter was an incredibly strong individual. A transcendent being who could even defeat Swordmasters and Great Sorcerers from the outside world.

But the Queen of this country is not human. She may look human, but she has lived for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. With a single gesture, she can turn mountains into plains and plains into canyons.

People often call her a “god.” She may not be omniscient, but her power rivals that of a god. No matter how strong a human is, they can’t defeat a god.

Moreover, the Queen rules an entire country. Opposing her means turning hundreds of thousands of soldiers, thousands of knights, and hundreds of mages into enemies.

Does Keter not know this, boldly declaring he’ll fight the Queen?

He knows. Fully and completely.

Yet, he opposes the Queen.

It’s not for Sephira.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not seeking revenge for Sephira. I’m just returning the favor to the Queen who wants to kill me.”

“I know that’s your style, but this time it’s different. It’s the Queen we’re talking about. No one would call you a coward for running and hiding.”

“Maknun. I’ve never picked my battles. That’s why I survived in Ruquer, and that’s my life’s purpose. Not bowing to anyone. The Queen is no different.”

Feeling Keter’s unwavering resolve, Maknun gave up on persuading him.

“If you don’t like it, you can leave. Go your own way.”

It was a unilateral dismissal. Maknun trembled with fear but smiled.

“Brother, where would I go? You can’t do anything without me.”

“Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

“You said it yourself. Since we’re born, we should leave a mark on this world. I want to leave my mark too. As the loyal subordinate of the man who opposed the Queen.”

“You’re truly my subordinate. You’re insane too.”

“Let’s leave Ruquer first. The Queen won’t know we can leave. Once we’re out, we can hide easily.”

“I said I’m not hiding.”

“It’s a strategic retreat. You’re not planning to storm the Royal Palace right now, are you? Let’s make a plan first.”

“Oh? You have a plan?”

Keter was about to leave Ruquer with only the essentials.

But the Queen was more thorough than Keter had anticipated. Before he knew it, the Queen’s army had entered Ruquer.

The Queen’s actions were truly ruthless and cruel. She mobilized an army of 50,000 to surround Ruquer. A forbidden zone where once you enter, you can never leave.

It was clear she intended to kill Keter, even if it meant a full-scale war with Ruquer.

“Brother, what do we do? There’s no gap at all. We’ll have to fight our way through.”

“Hmm……”

Keter stroked his chin. The soldiers, true to the Queen’s army, were well-armed and full of spirit.

No matter how strong Keter was, he was still alone, and the soldiers blocking his path numbered at least three hundred. If the fight dragged on, they would be surrounded by 50,000 troops.

The army was narrowing the encirclement, checking everyone on the streets. As Keter’s worries deepened, Maknun suggested an alternative.

“Should we go underground? We can hold out there. No matter how long it takes, they’ll give up after ten years. Then we can seek revenge……”

“No, they’ll never give up.”

Neither the Queen nor I will.

Keter jumped onto the roof and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Looking for me, idiots!”

The volume of his voice shook the windows, drawing everyone’s attention.

The soldiers alternated between looking at a portrait and Keter, quickly surrounding him.

But it wasn’t just the army that gathered. Ruquerians also heard Keter’s voice and came.

Keter pointed at the soldiers and said.

“These idiots were sent by the Queen to kill me. So I’ve made a decision.”

Keter raised his fist and spoke calmly.

“I’m leaving Ruquer now. I’m going to kill the Queen! Why? Because that’s the Ruquer way!”

How he got on the Queen’s radar or how he planned to leave Ruquer didn’t matter.

If Keter says he’ll do it, he’ll do it.

Everyone in Ruquer knew that.

“Brother, that was a great speech. What now?”

Maknun looked down.

The streets and alleys were filled with soldiers and knights, too many to count.

These weren’t just ordinary soldiers but elite royal guards, and the knights were all at least two-star rank.

Each one was a formidable opponent, and they had all come to Ruquer with the sole purpose of killing Keter.

There was no formal dialogue. The man who appeared to be the commander immediately gave the order to attack.

Boom!

A massive explosion rocked the city. A hole appeared in the middle of the army, and an old man emerged.

“Hehehe, finally, I get to use my bombs on the Queen’s dogs.”

One of Ruquer’s Five Madmen.

The Bomb Demon, Ragnon.

“Charge!”

Ignoring the explosion, the commander pointed at Keter and ordered a charge. The soldiers advanced with shields at the ready.

Then.

Swish swish!

Two scythes flew through the air like snakes, tearing through the soldiers.

The Amaniir armor and shields, resistant even to Aura, were shredded without mercy.

One of the Five Madmen, Jenny of the Chain Scythe, winked at Keter.

“Since I saved you in your time of need, you have to marry me, right?”

Before Keter could respond, Jenny dove into the soldiers, “harvesting” lives.

Keter’s answer was always the same.

“Dream on.”

The madmen feared by other madmen, Ruquer’s Five Madmen.

Two of them had appeared.

Their sudden appearance was unnatural, but Keter didn’t care.

The two madmen’s arrival threw the army into chaos, creating an opening.

There was no loss, so there was no need to question it.

Keter descended from the roof and walked down the street as if taking a stroll.

The soldiers couldn’t reach Keter. Ruquerians appeared out of nowhere to protect him, never forgetting to add a word.

“Consider this debt repaid, damn Solver!”

“Go kick that arrogant Queen’s ass!”

“Only a Ruquerian can kill a Ruquerian!”

Though known as the Clear-Eyed Madman, even feared by Ruquerians, Keter had built more than just grudges in Ruquer.

Hundreds owed him their lives.

Moreover, many in Ruquer held grudges against the Queen. Her laws sent all troublesome criminals to Ruquer.

Especially Ragnon, the Bomb Demon, whose family was executed for researching explosives, harbored deep hatred for the Kingdom’s army.

On the other hand, some, like Jenny of the Chain Scythe, fought for simple reasons like love.

As the battle intensified, the entire army surrounding the city converged on Keter.

Among them was a Swordmaster, known as a Transcendent Being.

No matter how strong the Ruquerians were, they were powerless before a Swordmaster. With a single strike, Ruquerians fell like wheat, and even Keter’s steps were halted.

The Swordmaster, clad in black armor, pointed his sword at Keter.

“I am the Queen’s sword and punisher. Keter of Sephira’s bloodline, guilty of treason. By the law of collective punishment, I shall judge you.”

The Aura Sword, capable of cutting through anything, was aimed at Keter.

Keter remained calm, his hands relaxed. He sensed a familiar presence.

Clang!

A red Blood Sword blocked the Swordmaster’s Aura Sword.

It was Walt, the Sword Demon of Ruquer.

Keter wondered why this guy, who had no reason to help him, had shown up.

Walt deflected the Swordmaster’s sword and said.

“Go, Keter. You have to die by my hand.”

This guy’s as crazy as I am. Keter chuckled and replied.

“You’ll live long enough for me to kill you.”

The Punisher’s sword danced. Dozens of blades filled the space, pressuring Keter.

But Keter didn’t stop. He ran.

A red line passed by Keter’s side. Walt’s slash. The Punisher’s sword strikes, which had been menacingly spread out, were all shattered, clearing Keter’s path.

With the help of Ruquerians, Keter and Maknun escaped Ruquer. As expected, there was no army outside Ruquer.

Confirming their safety, Maknun spoke to Keter.

“There’s no one outside. If we hide, it’s the perfect opportunity… Are you really going to fight the Queen?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have a reason to believe you can win? I’m just worried.”

“Maknun. There’s no reason. I just have to do it.”

Because I have to.

No reason is needed.

No matter how unfavorable the situation, no matter how strong the opponent, Keter never backed down. He had lived that way since birth.

This time is no different.