Chapter 67

Chapter 67. It’s Right in Front of You (4)

Normally, when you think of a city, there’s usually a mayor who manages it. But Ruquer doesn’t have a mayor. Instead, there are gangs or guilds that manage and control different districts. Each district has its own unique rules and laws—like tolls or bans on carrying weapons.

The Red Eye Gang’s district had only one rule: Don’t make noise. That’s it. Just follow that, and you’re good. As a result, the Red Eye Gang’s district was relatively quiet and peaceful.

“Wake up! We’ve got guests, boys—!”

Keter’s booming voice echoed through the quiet district. True to their name, thugs with red eyes quickly surrounded Keter and Luke. The thugs’ faces turned pale for a moment when they saw Keter, but as more of their comrades arrived, they regained their confidence and held their ground.

Once their numbers surpassed a hundred, the Red Eye Gang started shouting chaotically.

“Solver Keter! What brings you to our district?”

“Is that Keter? I’ve only heard rumors. He doesn’t look that impressive.”

“Hehehe. If I cut his throat, will I become famous? Maybe Lord Marhan will reward me!”

“Let’s kill him! No matter how strong he is, we outnumber him!”

“He’s unarmed. I don’t know about the archer, but Keter’s unarmed! This is our chance!”

They talked as if they were about to charge, but no one made the first move. They knew—the first one to step forward would definitely die.

Keter glanced at the surrounding gang members and clicked his tongue.

“You’re just a bunch of useless minnows. Don’t waste my time. Make way.”

In contrast to Keter’s calm demeanor, Luke was sweating bullets. There were more enemies than arrows. Even if he killed two or three with one arrow, it wouldn’t be enough. He had trained in martial arts and bow staff techniques, but he had never used them in real combat. Despite having abilities, he couldn’t shake the tension.

“You idiots! Attack from a distance, then close in while they’re blocking! Even Keter can’t handle that! Let’s go!”

One of the Red Eye Gang members incited the others. The instigator threw an axe at Keter first. That was the trigger. Countless weapons rained down on Keter and Luke. Most of them missed or collided mid-air, but with so many thrown, it became an unavoidable area attack. Moreover, their weapons were imbued with a faint aura.

Luke took a deep breath. Ignoring the barrage of weapons, he shot an arrow at the thug closest to him.

The thug shouted at Luke, who was aiming at him.

“You little brat! You think your arrows can pierce me, with my red eyes?!”

He had once caught a crossbow bolt faster than an arrow.

‘I see it! Your arrow!’

True to his boast, he really did see Luke’s arrow—for a brief moment.

*Thunk!*

“Huh? Aaaah!”

The thug clutched his thigh long after the arrow had passed. Luke’s arrow had pierced the thug’s thigh and embedded itself halfway into another thug’s shoulder behind him. The thug behind him had also seen the arrow coming.

“Damn it! That’s too fast!”

Yes. Luke’s arrows were incomparably faster than any they had faced before. No matter how good their reflexes were, they couldn’t react in time. Even if they saw it, their bodies couldn’t keep up.

This is where archery surpasses swordsmanship. If the opponent can’t react to the arrow, it’s much easier to kill them than with a sword.

Luke ignored the incoming projectiles and nocked another arrow. Seeing this, the gang members charged even more confidently.

*Whoosh!*

In the blink of an eye, the second arrow was fired. This time, two more fell to a single arrow. But the thugs didn’t stop. Instead, they charged even more frantically, thinking they wouldn’t be hit.

Finally, the thrown weapons reached Luke. But strangely, not a single one hit him.

“What the hell! How did he dodge all of that without moving?!”

Nine gang members had already been incapacitated just trying to approach Luke.

“Kekeke! I’ll pluck out your eyes and pickle them in alcohol!”

No matter how fast Luke shot his arrows, he couldn’t stop all the thugs from closing in. With nowhere to run, he eventually allowed one thug to get close. The thug swung his sword at Luke.

Luke dodged the sword and stabbed the thug’s thigh with an arrow, then pulled it out. He had aimed for the artery, so blood gushed out from the wound. But the thug didn’t back down and swung his sword again.

Luke was stunned.

‘Don’t they know they’ll die if they don’t get treated right now?’

Thinking the thug would retreat, Luke twisted his body and struck the thug’s head with his bow staff. The unexpected attack wasted a split second, and Luke completely allowed the other thugs to close in.

But Luke calmly dodged the attacks along the paths his ability showed him, striking or slashing with his bow staff.

‘They’re all using aura, which is threatening, but their attacks are simple. I can dodge them even without my misfortune detection.’

There was no technique. Just malicious intent to kill. Of course, if the opponent were a regular knight, they would’ve been dismembered by now, but Luke’s ability was particularly effective for defense and evasion.

The Red Eye Gang’s attacks didn’t injure Luke. But they did wound his heart.

‘Why are they fighting like this? Don’t they know they can’t win?’

It was overwhelming. Strength, speed, technique—everything. But the Red Eye Gang charged forward, undeterred even by death.

“Hahaha! This kid’s ridiculously strong!”

“If we kill him, we can screw over Keter, right? Hehehe!”

They acted as if they could kill Luke at any moment. But Luke didn’t tire or let his guard down. Instead, he became more focused and faster.

To conserve arrows, Luke started knocking them out with martial arts. The sensation of hitting human flesh was unpleasant, but he couldn’t stop. Swords, axes, spears, sickles, and other nameless weapons rained down from all directions.

Luke, following the knight’s code, tried to avoid killing as much as possible. But even so, more died. They kept charging even after being incapacitated.

“Haa, haa…”

Luke looked down at his hands. They were covered in blood—none of it his own. His clothes, even his entire body, were drenched.

Is human blood this sticky and unpleasant? It was completely different from his first fight with Jordic.

Luke looked for Keter. He thought Keter would be in the same state and wanted comfort from him.

But—

“…?!”

Around Keter were groaning gang members. Not a single drop of blood had been spilled. Keter was spotless. Since no one had bled, it was only natural.

“Keter…? How did you do that?”

Luke had been too focused on his own fight to see Keter’s. Keter gestured for Luke to come closer.

“What?”

“How did you take them all down without spilling a single drop of blood?”

“You crush their balls.”

Only then did Luke see it. Those who had fallen to Keter were all clutching their groins, groaning, or completely unconscious.

“You’re insane…”

Luke, who had been mentally worn down by the unpleasantness of violence, felt his groin tingle at the sight of an even greater terror.

* * *

Those watching the fight between the Red Eye Gang and Keter from a distance got chills. They looked at Keter and Luke, chatting amidst countless casualties, as if they were monsters.

“The rumors were true. Those who challenge Keter and die are blessed.”

Nearly 40 gang members who had challenged Keter had been castrated. Keter had even shown fairness by not discriminating by gender. Of course, the gang members weren’t fools. They tried to defend themselves by lowering their arms, but those who did ended up with their arms crippled as well.

“That kid’s no ordinary either. He may lack combat experience, but his technique is precise.”

Luke was mentally unstable, but he had performed excellently in combat.

Keter shouted at the onlookers.

“If you’ve been watching, pay the viewing fee! Bring water to wash our youngest.”

No one dared to defy Keter, who had shown monstrous power. Without hesitation, everyone brought buckets or bowls of water.

Keter immediately poured the water over Luke, washing away the blood. Luke, now soaked like a drowned rat, looked more cute than ridiculous.

Luke, brushing his wet hair back, muttered as he shook himself dry.

“This is why I didn’t want to come with you.”

“If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it. It’s refreshing, isn’t it?”

“It’s not easy.”

As Luke wrung out his clothes, a group appeared. Their eyes were red—naturally, they were the Red Eye Gang. But they were disciplined.

“Lord Keter. Greetings. I am Contact, fortunate to be a cadre.”

A handsome young man with closed eyes stepped forward and greeted Keter. Keter responded indifferently.

“Where’s Jairo? I came to find him.”

“Unfortunately, he’s fighting Lord Marhan.”

“I see.”

“Lord Marhan has ordered no one to interfere.”

“Then attack quickly. I’ll still thank you. You guys should make good exercise.”

The Red Eye Gang members Contact had brought didn’t feel like third-rate thugs. They were all gold-tier mercenaries. Contact, the cadre, was a platinum-tier who could use aura.

Keter gestured for them to come quickly, but Contact shook his head.

“How could I and these friends block Lord Keter’s path? I’m just pretending to stop you so Lord Marhan won’t scold me too much.”

Contact clapped his hands lightly, and the gang members blocking the path stepped aside.

“Please forgive our rudeness and follow this path, Lord Keter.”

“Sure.”

Keter strode past them. Luke, tense, followed closely behind.

Just as Keter passed Contact and showed his back—

“…Did you think I’d fall for that? Planning to ambush me, huh?!”

*Whack!*

Keter turned and slapped Contact’s cheek with the back of his hand. Contact fell to the ground from the unexpected attack. The lined-up gang members flinched. Contact gestured for them not to move and spoke.

“Why would I do that? This is unfair.”

“You were smirking.”

“I always smile.”

“If I see you not smiling next time, I’ll make you smile for 24 hours.”

“Today’s not my lucky day.”

Contact, fearing another slap, moved away. The gang members also subtly took a step back, not forgetting to distance themselves from Keter.

After passing them, no one blocked Keter. The cadres had agreed not to cause unnecessary casualties.

As they entered the Red Eye Gang’s district, the sound of explosions began to echo from somewhere.

Luke got chills just hearing the distant explosions. He could tell—powerful beings were fighting. It had to be Jairo, Keter’s subordinate, and Marhan, the eye collector.

Luke had thought until now that the two weren’t that strong. After all, one was Keter’s subordinate, and the other was the boss of a lawless city’s gang. Why would a truly powerful person serve as Keter’s subordinate or lead a gang?

But the level of the two fighting, as predicted by the sounds of battle, far exceeded Luke’s imagination.

Luke hadn’t encountered many strong individuals. Before meeting Keter, the vice-captain of the Holy Knight Order was the strongest he knew. But Jordic, whom he fought in Hakoz Village, was stronger than the vice-captain.

‘Keter is beyond description, so excluding him…’

Luke couldn’t believe it. The Jairo and Marhan fighting now were stronger than Jordic. The Red Eye Gang he had just fought felt like insects in comparison.

Luke glanced at Keter’s expression. Unsurprisingly, Keter also looked serious.

“Keter. You’re nervous too, huh?”

Keter responded with a look that said, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I was just thinking about what to eat for lunch. Let’s finish this quickly and get some food.”

Keter, who had been walking leisurely, suddenly sprinted toward the battlefield. Luke, with a dumbfounded expression, muttered.

“It feels like there’s still a lot left to do.”

Luke was deeply worried about when he would ever get to meet the Southern Sword.