Chapter 69

Chapter 69. Stop the Movement, Are You Cheating? (1)

Keter clapped his hands.

Clap, clap, clap!

“The one who employs such a guy as a subordinate is none other than me, Solver Keter.”

Jairo’s momentum vanished as if washed away. Jairo, who had returned to being a drunkard, took a sip of alcohol and spoke.

“You’ve never really used me, have you? It was good at first, but lately, I’ve even been feeling disillusioned. Kukukuku.”

“It’s almost like a decoration. Just its existence alone is reassuring, I’d say.”

“As long as you keep giving me this alcohol, I don’t care what you call me. This is the only thing that can get me drunk.”

Jairo threw an empty bottle.

A few drops of alcohol remained inside, trickling down to the ground.

Luke, who had been suppressed by Jairo’s aura, inadvertently witnessed a scene where a rat that appeared out of nowhere sniffed the alcohol, immediately convulsed, spewed blood, and died on the spot.

What Jairo had been drinking was alcohol close to a deadly poison.

“Ugh…”

Luke’s legs gave out, and he couldn’t stand anymore.

Keter noticed that Luke’s mental strength had reached its limit. Although Keter wanted to push him further to stimulate growth, he still had business with Jairo.

“Jairo. Let’s eat. The owner’s treating.”

“I won’t say no to free food.”

Tap, tap.

Keter tapped Luke’s shoulder to wake him up and took the lead.

A short while later.

When they arrived at the restaurant Keter frequented, ‘Joyray’s Tavern,’ the seated customers glanced around.

“Keter and the Demon Swordsman Jairo are joining forces?”

“Come to think of it, some knight had been looking for Keter for the past few days. After that, both disappeared, and there were rumors they went to the outside world…”

“If they went to the outside world, why would Keter be here? The missing knight must be dead.”

The customers whispered among themselves upon seeing Keter. Some even hurriedly left, fearing they might get involved in some incident.

“Puhahaha. No matter how much Keter flies or crawls, he can’t leave Ruquer. That Lilian bitch can’t leave here either, right?”

A drunkard joked, but no one laughed.

The atmosphere in the tavern froze instantly. Several people stood up, gripping their weapons.

“Did you just insult Queen Lilian?”

“You crazy bastard. Get down on your knees and apologize in the direction where Queen Lilian is right now.”

Men threatening a drunkard while sober.

They weren’t companions, nor were they knights. Yet, they suddenly acted like lunatics.

The drunkard finally realized his mistake and hurriedly prostrated himself towards the north.

“I-I apologize to Queen Lilian. Please forgive this ignorant fool’s mistake.”

At the drunkard’s apology, those who had stood up returned to their seats. However, they continued to glare at the drunkard who had insulted the Queen.

As the sobered drunkard quickly left the tavern, the glaring customers followed him out.

“If the show’s over, place your orders, you rotten scum.”

The tavern owner, Joyray, shouted.

Keter raised his hand.

“Captain! The usual.”

Joyray, with one eye covered by an eyepatch, approached Keter’s table.

“Hey, Keter. Where have you been for the past four days? Don’t tell me you actually went to the outside world and came back?”

“Why, Captain? You wanna go too? Want to? I’ll make you my subordinate and take you out.”

“You’re funny. Looks like the knight who came looking for you gave you quite a bit of money. From now on, you’re paying ten times the price for food.”

“You’re putting a straw in the mouth of your life’s benefactor, huh?”

“I’ve been feeding you since you were a baby, even breaking the rules of this place. What’s wrong with putting a straw in your mouth?”

“People might think you gave it to me for free! You took everything I had!”

“I only charged for the ingredients! How many times do I have to say it!”

Keter and Joyray grabbed each other’s collars, growling.

As Luke fidgeted nervously, Jairo spoke to reassure him.

“They’re just fighting. Just watch.”

“I-I have a question.”

“I’ll listen until the food comes.”

“Why did those people get so excited about the Queen earlier? I like the Queen too, but it was just a joke.”

“Kukukuku. What a question. Now I see why Keter keeps you around. Why did they get so excited? It’s the opposite. It’s strange if they don’t get excited.”

“Huh? But most people stayed quiet.”

“That’s because this is Ruquer. Many here haven’t experienced Lilian’s ‘blessing,’ and the influence is greatly weakened because it’s offset by Ruquer’s ‘curse.’”

“I don’t understand at all.”

“That’s normal. Not knowing… is just like everyone else.”

Jairo fell silent. As if there was no point in saying more.

Luke didn’t ask further and thought to himself.

“Is that blessing you mentioned the Queen’s blessing received during the ‘New Year’s Festival’ every January?”

“You can deduce that much?”

“Huh? I don’t think it’s that amazing of a deduction…”

“I thought so from your appearance, but you definitely weren’t born in the Lilian Kingdom.”

“I don’t fully understand, but isn’t the Queen’s blessing during the New Year’s Festival a good thing?”

January 1st. On the first day of the New Year, festivals are held in every city. Along with the ‘blessing’ bestowed by Queen Lilian to the kingdom’s citizens.

All citizens of the kingdom eagerly await January each year because of the various beneficial effects gained from Lilian’s blessing.

First, sexual desire and sensitivity increase tenfold.

Second, you won’t get pregnant even without contraception.

Third, your mind becomes clear, and your stamina increases.

Fourth, minor injuries are completely healed, and major injuries improve.

Lastly, the effects persist for a while after the festival ends before fading away.

Queen Lilian’s blessing is literally a divine blessing. A divine blessing with no side effects, no cost.

There’s no reason not to participate, and all citizens eagerly await the first day of the New Year.

However, there’s one place in the Lilian Kingdom where the festival isn’t held—Ruquer.

Jairo lowered his voice uncharacteristically.

“Lilian’s blessing is an invisible curse and poison. Once you experience it, you become her servant in some way. It’s different from loyalty or hypnosis. Normally, I wouldn’t tell this to anyone. Hearing this, you’d immediately report me to the guards. Saying there’s a traitor. How do you feel about me? Do you want to report me?”

Luke’s pupils trembled.

The moment Jairo said, “Lilian’s blessing is actually a curse and poison,” Luke felt an overwhelming urge to kill. To ‘sanction’ him.

How dare he slander Queen Lilian? She is the founder of this nation, the mother of all people. It’s because of her that we exist.

That alone makes her worthy of reverence, and she personally bestows blessings. To call that a curse and belittle it is unbearable.

“Was this too much?”

Just as Jairo, sensing Luke’s killing intent, raised his fist to knock him out—

Whack!

Keter smacked the back of Luke’s head.

Luke’s head slammed into the table, and he passed out.

* * *

“This is the only way now. I’m sorry. Don’t forgive me.”

Luke dreamed. The voice and figure were blurry, but he could tell she was crying.

She kissed my forehead. Soft and warm.

She put me down. I was very small. I was getting further away from her. She wasn’t leaving. I was moving away from her.

Whoosh!

“Ah!”

Luke jolted awake from the cold sensation on his face.

“Stop sleeping and eat.”

“Ugh!?”

Keter shoved bread into Luke’s mouth.

At first, Luke resisted, but he was captivated by the sweet and sour taste on his tongue.

“Mmm, mmm? Mmm-.”

Mumbling, Luke looked around.

After chewing and swallowing the bread, Luke spoke to Keter.

“What? Why did I pass out? I remember arriving here and sitting down… but after that, I don’t remember. And what was that strange dream?”

“I don’t know.”

“All newcomers to Ruquer pass out mysteriously at least once. Kukukuku.”

Jairo, leaning his sword against his shoulder, handed Luke an apple pie.

Luke blinked as he received the apple pie.

“I think I was having an important conversation with Jairo-nim.”

“No need for honorifics with me.”

“Umm…”

Luke, about to call him ‘senpai,’ realized that was also an honorific, and after some thought, he spoke.

“Can I call you… uncle?”

“Whatever.”

“Uncle Jairo. Why did I pass out? Please tell me.”

“You’re not qualified to know that yet.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll figure it out on your own when the time comes. Even if I don’t tell you. That’ll be the start of your misfortune. Kuku.”

Jairo resumed eating.

The table was already filled with empty plates. Keter and Jairo had devoured what looked like at least ten servings.

But there was still plenty of food left.

Growl.

Already hungry, Luke started eating hastily, beginning with the apple pie.

Keter glanced at Luke and moved to sit next to Jairo.

“Jairo. Write me a recommendation.”

Keter handed over paper and a pen, but Jairo shook his head.

“I already wrote one. I had it just in case, but I didn’t expect to give it to the owner.”

Jairo pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment.

Though it smelled a bit, the contents and signature inside were genuine.

Jairo slightly cut his fingertip with his nail, drawing blood, and wrote Keter’s name on the recommendation.

Finally, when he signed it with blood, the blood was absorbed into the parchment, imprinting it.

“Here you go. But, where are you planning to use it? It’s impossible to leave Ruquer anyway.”

Keter, who had taken the recommendation, handed over a mug filled with dark beer.

“I can leave. I disappeared for four days because I was in the outside world and came back. The recommendation is needed to participate in the Southern Sword Tournament as an independent.”

“If it’s someone else’s words, I wouldn’t believe it, but if the owner says he can leave, then it must be true. But going out to participate in the Southern Sword Tournament… you’re really something, owner.”

The two clinked their mugs and downed the dark beer in one go.

“Owner, do you also want to catch Queen Lilian’s eye?”

Participating in the Southern Sword Tournament is akin to challenging for the title of the Kingdom’s Greatest Swordsman.

The Kingdom’s Greatest Swordsman is a hero representing the kingdom and a knight favored by the Queen.

Not only that, but they also gain the right to have an audience with the Queen and receive her power. Most participants dream of the ‘audience’ with the Queen when they join the Kingdom’s Greatest Swordsman tournament.

As far as Jairo knew, Keter had never experienced Lilian’s blessing.

But not experiencing the blessing doesn’t mean he dislikes the Queen. Lilian is the only ‘Queen’ among the continent’s kings and a symbol of ‘beauty.’

Any man would naturally admire her.

Keter tore into a chicken leg and spoke.

“Becoming the Kingdom’s Greatest Swordsman sounds fun. I’d get to see that Lilian bitch’s face up close, right?”

“Do you want to see Lilian?”

“If I’m going to kill her, I need to see her first.”

“…Huh?”

Jairo doubted his ears.

Kill the Queen?

He said it so casually?

“What did you just say? Say it again.”

“I’m going to kill Lilian.”

“Huh…?”

The terrifying thing about Lilian isn’t just her ‘blessing.’

Even those who haven’t experienced her blessing become captivated by her mere existence.

Especially men, even without the blessing, are greatly influenced just by seeing her statues or paintings.

Men who know of Lilian’s existence and see her indirectly never hold ‘ill feelings’ towards her.

Jairo had never, in all his life, met someone who said they wanted to kill the Queen.

Even if it was a joke.

“Owner, have you never seen Lilian’s portrait or statue?”

“Jairo. What are you trying to say?”

“Do you really mean it when you say you want to kill the Queen?”

“Why, are you interested too?”

“What’s your reason for wanting to kill her?”

“Since when do I need a reason to kill?”

“I’ve never seen you kill without a reason either.”

“Sharp.”

Keter raised his hand and called Joyray.

“One whole roasted pig!”

“Yes, sir! Coming right up!”

Joyray, who received a 1,000 gold note from Keter, smiled and said.

“Owner. Please tell me.”

Jairo urged, as if he really wanted to hear it.

Keter rested his chin on his hand and spoke.

“That bitch picked a fight with me first.”

“…….”

“So I’m going to kill her.”

“That’s impossible. No human can survive her wrath. Even if they’re in Ruquer.”

“Right. I actually died once. Not by her, though.”

“Are you saying you died once and came back to life?”

“Yeah.”

“If that’s true, why are you telling me? If resurrection is a real ability, it’s a power comparable to a god.”

“Why would I hide something that makes me godlike?”

Jairo looked as if he had been punched.

“Hahaha! That’s true. If you can resurrect, what is there to fear?”

Though he laughed heartily, Jairo’s inner thoughts were the complete opposite.

He was confused.

Keter truly doesn’t lie. Such a man was defeated by Lilian and resurrected to seek revenge.

Jairo had always believed whatever Keter said, but this time, it was really hard to believe.

“Now it’s my turn. Do you think you can kill Lilian with that demon sword?”

“I never said I would kill Lilian.”

Jairo, knowing Keter’s specialty was probing, firmly stated.

“Don’t give me that look like you’ll tell me after hearing my story. I don’t need to hear it to know. One day, you learned the truth about this country, shared it with someone you thought you could trust, and your family was destroyed, leaving only you alive. You wanted revenge, but your strength wasn’t enough, so you relied on the demon sword. Right?”

“…You’re deducing my life too easily.”

“As an owner, I’ll give you some good info. You can’t even kill a lord with a demon sword.”

“You’re confident. You must have seen other demon swordsmen. But, was the demon sword you saw an awakened one?”

“Huh? What’s awakening?”

Jairo stared at Keter.

He tells the truth about what he knows and immediately admits what he doesn’t. Is there another person like this in the world?

The awakening of a demon sword. This is rare information known only to a very few among those who know about demon swords.

Jairo had scoured the world to obtain this information, overcoming countless life-threatening situations before finally learning it.

If this information were converted into money, Jairo was confident it would be worth at least 10 million gold.

“How much do you know about demon swords, Owner?”

Jairo shared his information.

It wasn’t aimless goodwill; he thought Keter might know something about awakening.

Instead of answering, Keter extended his right arm. His tattoo transformed into a black bow in the blink of an eye.

Demon Bow Amaranth.

Jairo’s eyes widened immensely.

“A demon sword… no, a bow, so it’s a demon bow. I’ve never seen a cursed weapon in the shape of a bow before.”

Keter, who had summoned Amaranth, shrugged.

“I’m the owner of the demon bow, but I’m not that interested, so I don’t know much.”

“Let me tell you. The true nature of cursed artifacts and the real power they hold.”

Mentioning cursed artifacts alone can erode a person’s mind. Detailed explanations amplify that power.

But now, it wasn’t a problem.

Keter had already erected a mana barrier since starting the conversation about Lilian. There was no risk of the conversation leaking, so Jairo spoke freely about the cursed artifacts.

“You said even a lord can’t be killed with a demon sword. I agree. But that’s only when the restrictions on the demon sword haven’t been lifted.”