Chapter 24: Let’s Work Together (3)

Ultima closely examined the bodies of the Jacose family as he ran toward Keter.

“Holes?”

Each of their foreheads had a hole in it.

What kind of weapons could cause wounds like this?

There was something that looked like a bow slung over Keter’s shoulder, but that couldn’t be it. Ultima didn’t recall Keter ever using a bow as a weapon. Even if he did, it still didn’t make sense.

The holes are too small to have been caused by arrows. And even if it were arrows, where did they go?

Ultima couldn’t even imagine that Keter had reached a level where he could shoot arrows without actually using any.

Finally, Ultima stood before Keter.

Keter rested his arms on his thighs and said, “Stop looking around like that. It’s annoying.”

“...Are you really unscathed?”

“Unscathed? No, I took a serious hit—right to my pride. You sent these lowlifes after me?”

Slap!

Keter’s open palm landed squarely on Ultima’s right cheek.

“This one’s for waking me up early.”

Slap!

This time, Keter’s slap landed on Ultima’s left cheek, making him fall to the ground.

“And this one’s for underestimating me. Hey, put your head back in place. Or would you rather get kicked?”

Thinking that a slap was better than a kick, Ultima quickly got to his feet.

Thwack!

Keter landed a final slap on Ultima’s forehead, then casually brushed off his hands.

“Nice and crisp.”

“

Ptoo

, is that all?” Ultima asked stoically, swallowing his humiliation.

Ultima’s lips were split and bleeding.

Pointing to Jacose’s corpse, Keter asked, “Do you think that’s all? The moment that bastard opened his mouth, the stench nearly killed my nose. How are you going to compensate me for trying to destroy my sense of smell?”

“...I’ll pay for it.”

Ultima reached into his coat and pulled out a thousand-gold note and offered it to Keter. It was a sign of his regret—the price he had to pay for mistakenly believing the Jacose family could kill Keter.

Keter snatched the note and smelled it.

“Hmm. It’s genuine. This should be a decent consolation for me.”

“Six years, no, seven, I think. The last time I saw you, you didn’t use a bow as a weapon. How did you manage to kill Jacose?”

“As a freebie, I’ll tell you—I did kill him with this,” Keter said, tapping Amaranth, the jet-black bow, and showing it to him.

“And the arrows?” Ultima asked.

“I don’t carry such cumbersome things.”

“...Let’s leave that aside for now. I won’t ask how you left Liqueur, but I do need to know why you’re with the Sefira family.”

“Isn’t it obvious? Even when I was living in Liqueur, I always had that noble air about me. There was a reason for that.”

“Hahaha, are you seriously saying you’re of Sefira blood or something?”

“I don’t have the title yet, but I am the son of Sefira.”

“That’s a ridiculous joke. It’s not even funny. Did they accept you as part of the family just because of your eye color? The Sefira family must be really careless.”

“Enjoy their carelessness while you can.”

Ultima frowned. In truth, he had been screwing over the Sefira family, taking advantage of their trust. In the underworld, screwing someone over meant tricking or deceiving someone, and that’s exactly what he was doing.

As Ultima remained silent, Keter continued to speak.

“It was quite a sight, even at a glance. It must have been easy to manipulate, shoving everything into the storage room without properly checking the inventory. Even I would have been tempted to screw them over like that.”

“We’re the same, are we not? Aren’t you also pretending to be the young master of Sefira and taking their assets?”

“Hey, don’t twist my words. I’m on Sefira’s side. You get what I mean, right?”

“We’re both from Liqueur, Keter. We don’t need to be at odds. Sefira is too big for one person anyway. We don’t need to fight—we can share it.”

Ultima didn’t want to clash with Keter, as there was no benefit in opposing him.

Keter stood up and approached Ultima.

“Why are you talking so much? Don’t you get it? Scamming Sefira is the same as scamming me.”

Ultima stepped back and replied, “So you’re telling me to give it up?”

“No, keep doing what you’re doing.”

“What...?”

“But let’s work together on something. I’m going to make Sefira the most powerful family on the continent.”

Ultima, standing on the border between the clearing and the forest, bit his lower lip.

What nonsense is this?

He had always known Keter was a madman, but now he was talking about making the Sefira family the strongest on the continent. It made Ultima wonder if Keter had any clue about the current state of the Sefira family.

“Keter, it seems like you haven’t been out of Liqueur for long and don’t really understand how things are going around here, but the Sefira family is cornered. It’s no exaggeration to say that the entire kingdom is their enemy.”

“I know. So, what’s your answer?”

“...”

“You’ll refuse, right? I would too.”

Ultima didn’t bother to deny it. No matter how much Keter might threaten him, he couldn’t accept the alliance offer. Sefira was utterly on the brink of collapse; to join them now would be like signing up for death. However, lying to get out of the immediate situation wasn’t an option either. Unfortunately for Ultima, Keter had an uncanny ability to detect lies.

So, in the end...

It seems that one of us must die.

Ultima wasn’t naïve enough to just accept death. He pulled out a scroll from his jacket and held it up.

“Stop right there, Keter! You know what this is, right?”

“A magic scroll. With that gold coating, it’s at least a Fifth-Circle or higher.”

“Haha, this is a Sixth-Circle Firestorm scroll.”

“Oh, Sixth-Circle? That’s not something you can easily buy, but you managed to get your hands on it.”

“You still don’t get it? Let me spell it out for you. This scroll is worth fifty thousand gold. You should realize just how powerful it is!”

“Fifty thousand gold? Sounds like you got scammed. You could get that for thirty thousand gold, but you paid almost twice as much.”

“That’s not the point right now!”

“What could be more important than money?”

Keter, who had briefly stopped, began approaching Ultima again.

“Stop! If you come any closer, I’ll tear it up!”

Rip

.

Ultima slightly tore the edge of the scroll, showing he wasn’t just bluffing. However, Keter didn’t stop walking.

* * *

Sweat was pouring from Ultima’s hand as he was holding the scroll. He was beginning to worry he might drop it.

Keter, this lunatic. Why isn’t he stopping?

What Ultima had was a genuine scroll for Firestorm. The moment he tore it, everything within a one-hundred-meter radius would be obliterated by a storm of fire. Even a Swordmaster would be reduced to nothing but bone dust if they faced a Sixth-Circle spell head-on.

Does this crazy bastard not know that? Is he just charging forward because he’s ignorant? No, that can’t be. I know for a fact this guy is knowledgeable about magic! What confidence does he have to keep approaching me, even as I tear the scroll? Shouldn’t he be trying to bribe or threaten me so I don’t tear it?

Keter was now five steps away. The bow was a long-range weapon, yet he kept coming closer. Keter was already within the range of Firestorm. Ultima would also be caught in the blast if he tore it now, but that wasn’t why he was hesitating.

Ultima looked into the eyes of Keter, a madman. Violet pupils with golden irises—they were so extravagant. Ultima thought Keter’s eyes were needlessly flashy, even in their first encounter. As such, he believed Keter would die soon; in Liqueur, flashy types got hunted down quickly because they stood out too much. But Keter survived. He was probably the first in Liqueur to do so.

Ultima thought leaving Liqueur meant he’d never have to see Keter again. But of all times, Keter showed up now, blocking Ultima’s path at the most critical point in his life.

Keter was still holding his bow, the jet-black one that looked anything but ordinary. He had killed the Jacose family instantly with that bow.

Why is he coming closer when a bow is a long-range weapon?

Suddenly, it dawned on Ultima.

...Is he confident he can attack faster than I can tear this scroll?

There was a world humans experienced in extreme situations where time slowed down, and Ultima was now in that world. In a split second, countless thoughts raced through his mind.

Keter, if you really intended to kill me, you wouldn’t have missed your first strike. You spared me. But why?

Getting slapped by Keter was excruciatingly painful and humiliating, but Ultima let Keter do it as there was no sense of intent to kill. He could take slaps all day if it meant he could survive; a potion could heal that quickly.

Ultima could also give Keter as much money as he wanted as a settlement. After all, money can always be earned again. But life—life couldn’t be earned again. It was ironic for Ultima, someone from Liqueur, to be so attached to life, but he couldn’t help it; Ultima discovered what happiness was after leaving that place.

Maybe it was because Ultima only knew misery in Liqueur, but he had no idea how sweet happiness could be. He now owned a respectable merchant company, with the potential to grow it even more. He was born the son of a prostitute in Liqueur, but he now had a dream of becoming a noble.

I can’t die here. Especially not a pointless death.

So, Ultima had to tear this scroll. He had to rip it apart to kill Keter, because that was the only way he would survive.

But why... Why do I have this unshakable feeling that if I tear this scroll, Keter will survive, and I’ll be the one to die?

Ultima’s instincts that had saved him countless times were telling him to stay still. But how could he stay still, seeing the unreadable and calm expression on Keter’s face?

Even though the world had slowed down, time still moved forward. Keter was now within three steps of Ultima—close enough to reach out and touch. This was his last chance; if he didn’t tear the scroll now, they would both be caught in Firestorm and die.

A ringing filled Ultima’s ears, and he was becoming dizzy.

Thud.

Keter took his final step. In the end, Ultima couldn’t tear the scroll.

* * *

Keter was now so close to Ultima that Keter could reach out and touch him. The Firestorm scroll was slightly torn, but not enough to activate the spell.

“Keter... Do you think this scroll is fake?” asked Ultima, who became drenched in sweat within seconds but maintained a calm expression.

Keter glanced at the scroll and replied, “There’s a signature at the bottom of the paper. It’s from the Grand Mage Marcosse. His signature is known to be impossible to replicate.”

“Ha, haha... You know it damn well, down to the last detail. But is the reason why you’re still in front of me because you think I’m easy prey? Because I lost to you in Liqueur?”

“Ultima, as I told you before, you’re underestimating yourself.”

“I don’t recall hearing that.”

“Consider it said. You’re not someone to be underestimated. But...”

Keter pointed at himself with his thumb.

“I’m on a whole different level.”

“...I see. You’re a madman among madmen.”

In Liqueur, plain, ordinary madness wasn’t enough for one to earn the title of a lunatic; living in Liqueur itself meant someone was already mad. But there were five individuals in Liqueur who were universally recognized as true lunatics, even in a place where madness was the norm.

Balt, the Blade Demon; Ragnon, the Bomber; Jenny, the Chain Scythe; and Maran, the Eyeball Collector. Anyone who lived in Liqueur had to know these four. If they didn’t, they were as good as dead. Even the most reckless Liqueurians, who didn’t value their lives, steered clear of these four.

And then, there was the last one. The pinnacle of madness, the one even these four avoid—Keter, the Solver.

Ultima folded the scroll and put it back into his coat. The outcome was already clear.

Those clear, unreadable eyes; a lunatic who treated his own life like someone else’s. Ultima realized once again that no one could stand before Keter and gamble with their life.

But that didn’t mean Keter was an animal that couldn’t be reasoned with.

“Keter, I have no intention of fighting you to the death. It’s not about whether I think I can win or not—I just don’t want to. What is it you want from me?”

“Now you’re finally making sense. Keep talking,” Keter replied.

“As I said earlier, I have no intention of keeping Sefira all to myself. What do you want? I’ll give it to you, even if it’s one of Sefira’s heirlooms. After all, we share the secret of getting out of Liqueur.”

“

Tsk tsk

. You really don’t get it, do you?”

Ultima couldn’t hide his frustration when he failed at convincing Keter.

“What exactly do you want? We’re just wasting each other’s time here.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t get it. The Sefira family belongs to me.”

“...What?”

Ultima, despite appearances, was a quick thinker. But what Keter was saying now made no sense to him.

“Let me introduce myself again.”

Whip!

Keter tossed Amaranth behind his back and stuffed both hands into his pockets.

“Keter El Sefira, illegitimate son of the Sefira family: that’s who I am.”

A large bead of sweat rolled down Ultima’s forehead.

Even if he’s a lunatic... he doesn’t lie.

Keter was notorious for spouting madness as naturally as breathing, but he never lied. This meant that Keter really was a member of the Sefira bloodline. Ultima didn’t even feel the need to ask if it was true.

From a distance, it was difficult to tell if the green figure was an orc or an ogre. But up close, an ogre was clearly five times bigger and had horns on its head. Just getting a little closer made the difference between the two obvious.

From Ultima’s perspective, it was as if he could already see the ogre’s horns. If he got any closer to confirm, he would be devoured by the ogre. Ultima was not so lacking in judgment that he didn’t realize this.

Damn it. I thought I had surpassed you in the outside world, but even out here, you’re still above me.

Following the customs of the outside world, Ultima knelt before Keter and bowed his head.

“Ultima, head of the merchant company, greets Lord Keter El Sefira.”