Chapter 50: I’m an Attention Seeker (4)

Tears streamed down Luke’s face. Keter was alive. His arrogant tone and his insane, yet calm expression could be no one else's.

“Did you do this?” asked Jordic, catching his breath and pointing his spear at Keter.

Instead of replying, Keter threw his bow on the ground. Then, the tattoo on his left arm traveled down and gathered in his left hand, ultimately becoming a jet-black bow—Demon Bow Amaranth. The reason why he pulled this out without replying to Jordic was for one simple reason: Jordic wasn’t worth talking to anymore. Keter was done using Jordic now. He was going to kill him along with the rest of Bydent’s knights and retrieve Karon.

Voong!

A demon arrow was loaded on Amaranth. Jordic’s eyes trembled at the sight of the arrow, which was completely different from anything related to aura. He had never seen it before, but his instincts told him that the arrow Keter was holding had the power of death.

Jordic’s palms were already blistered, but he gripped his spear harder and shouted, “Did you think I, the Spear Dragon of Bydent, would be afraid?! Come at me!”

Jordic was preparing to unleash a second round of Lunar Eclipse.

Luke, completely drained, staggered backward. His instincts were telling him that Jordic would be the one to die. The tingling sensation down his spine told him to back away to not get caught in the explosion.

The atmosphere was tense, where something could happen at any second. Then, someone intervened between the two of them.

“Stop.”

It was Karon who held out his hand to both Keter and Jordic to stop them. Despite suffering deep wounds and collapsing earlier, Karon had somehow recovered and now stood with a calm expression.

Jordic canceled the Lunar Eclipse at Karon’s intervention, but not Keter.

Putting Karon and Jordic both in the trajectory of the arrow, Keter said, “What is it?”

“I trust both of you, so stop fighting. There’s no reason for allies to fight.”

“Ha. It seems like my grandpa didn’t train you well. Are we your subordinates? Should we concede and immediately stop at your say-so, my lord?”

Everyone was bewildered as Keter spoke like he was going to see this through.

“You’re crazy! I willingly withdrew Lunar Eclipse, accepting the backlash. And yet, you still plan to attack me? How can you call yourself a noble?!” Jordic shouted.

“Why are you blaming me when you’re the one who backed down?” Keter shot back.

“Lord Keter, please put down your arrow. I failed to show you proper respect because I was unsure of your intentions,” Karon interjected.

“Keter, maybe you should hear what Karon has to say before making any decisions,” Luke said.

With the three of them persuading him, Keter finally relented, lowering his arrow, acting as though he was doing them a favor.

“Fine. I’ll give you a chance. After all, I’m merciful.”

The balance of power had shifted completely. Everyone there now understood that Keter was in control.

“Haa...”

Luke fell back, all the tension releasing from his body. It was not knight-like, but he didn’t have the energy to care about that.

Ignoring Luke, Karon, Jordic, and Keter gathered. Karon, who had intervened to stop the fight, was the first to speak.

“Lord Jordic, your spear technique has shown that you are truly the representative of the Moon Rabbit Tribe.”

“... Hmph!”

The technique that Karon was talking about was Lunar Eclipse.

“Lord Keter, I did not think you were worthy of being Elder Reganon’s representative. But if you are the owner of that artifact, I can acknowledge you.”

Karon didn’t know the name of Amaranth, but it seemed like he could feel its power.

Voong!

Amaranth resonated for the first time in a long while, signaling its presence to Keter.

Slap!

Keter swiftly smacked the bowstring, silencing the resonance before speaking.

“I get that you trust both of us, but what exactly are you trying to say?”

Karon responded calmly, “First, I'd like to hear why Lord Jordic sought us out.”

Finally given a chance to speak, Jordic felt his chest swell with emotion.

“The Moon Rabbit Tribe has foreseen a danger if you stay here. Come with us to Bydent. We can protect you,” anxiously said Jordic, worried that Keter might attack him.

And sure enough, Keter immediately interrupted, “Don't inflate something anyone can predict and call it foresight. Even Elder Reganon said staying in one place too long isn't good. We've already prepared a hiding place. We'll go there, Karon.”

Of course, it was all a lie. Keter had made it up on the spot. A lie that couldn’t be verified might as well be the truth, so it wasn't exactly wrong either.

Karon looked troubled as both sides had valid points.

Reganon had saved Karon and his companions from danger and hid them. Karon knew just how much of a risk he had taken by taking them in. In return, they had run a few errands for him, but the secret was well protected.

As for the Moon Rabbit Tribe that Jordic mentioned, they were long allies of the Flying Wolf Tribe, so Karon also understood that they were trying to protect them. And truthfully, he felt more at ease with the Moon Rabbit Tribe than with humans.

Karon couldn't easily decide, and Jordic was growing frustrated.

“My subordinates are gravely injured. We don't have time to sit around and wait here!”

Jordic rushed to his men and began treating their wounds.

“Hmm...”

But the injuries of humans weren’t enough to ease Karon's dilemma.

Keter, as usual, approached Jordic, intending to make some money by offering healing services in exchange for payment.

“Hm?”

When he did, Keter caught a strange scent that irritated his senses. In a place filled with the smell of dirt and blood, there was an odd, out-of-place fragrance. It was the smell of oranges—not the juicy, fresh scent of orange flesh, but a light, sun-dried fragrance. This was the scent that was on Reganon.

Jordic, noticing Keter approaching, said, “I'll pay you, just heal my men. Hurry up and give me that damn contract!”

“Hm, you. Hand over everything you’ve got in your pockets. Then I’ll heal them.”

“What? That's all you want?”

“Yeah. Hurry up, before I change my mind.”

“Fine, I’ll give it all.”

Jordic handed over his entire pocket belt to Keter. After all, there was nothing important inside.

Sniff, sniff.

Keter sniffed the belt and nodded in satisfaction.

“Okay. Deal.”

Keter, now wearing the belt around his own waist, began healing the injured Bydent knights. It was fast—both his hands and the treatment. The Bydent knights, who were severely injured, were now at least safe from bleeding out or suffering an infection. They would still need proper recovery, though.

“Hah, this is the best I can do here.”

Relieved by the fact that he saved his subordinates, Jordic released the tight grip he had on his spear.

Immediately, Keter shot back.

“Hold your weapon, you idiot.”

“...”

Without a word, Jordic picked up his spear again.

For a brief moment, Jordic had felt a small sense of camaraderie toward Keter. But Keter reprimanded him, warning him not to let his guard down.

Lecturing me in this situation...

Despite feeling a blow to his pride, Jordic thought that if anyone had the right to say that, it might be Keter. In Keter’s hand was the pitch-black bow.

“Is that Amaranth?” Jordic asked, recalling the name that Luke had mentioned earlier.

But instead of answering, Keter responded with a completely unrelated question.

“What is this even used for?”

A yellow powder stained Keter’s fingers. It had come from one of Jordic’s pouches.

Although Jordic was irritated that his question was ignored, he still replied, “It’s just perfume powder. Nothing more than that.”

“None of the others had it in their pockets.”

“

Tsk

, rummaging through people’s things. Of course, my subordinates wouldn’t have it. That’s premium perfume powder, reserved only for direct descendants of Bydent.”

“Oh really? So no one outside your family uses this stuff?”

“Exactly. Tempted, are you? Hah, your Sefira family doesn’t have any perfumers, so you can’t even dream of this luxury.”

“A modest luxury, at best.”

At that moment, Karon, having finished his deliberation, approached the two.

“I’ve thought it over. I believe I need to speak directly with Lord Reganon.”

Neither Keter nor Jordic liked this conclusion. Of course, Karon could only suggest something like this because he was unaware of the intricacies between the two families.

Keter quickly interjected, “No way. We don’t have time for that. The people following you could arrive any minute now. Do you even realize how stupid it is to stand around here?”

Worried that the Bydent family might lose the Flying Wolf Tribe, Jordic also chimed in.

“Saying you want to consult Elder Reganon? How indecisive. Are you doubting the foresight of the Moon Rabbit Tribe?”

“Why should Karon trust the Moon Rabbit Tribe at all? Maybe they’re just lulling you into a false sense of security, planning to sell you off to the emperor!”

“Don’t you dare accuse our high elder of being a con artist like you!”

Keter ignored Jordic. After all, the decision was to be made by Karon.

“All the traitors among the beastfolk started that way. They sacrificed others to protect their own kind. Do you know about the story of the Blade Bird Tribe? Maybe the Moon Rabbit Tribe wants to follow in their footsteps and become just as treacherous as those scum,” Keter said.

The Blade Bird Tribe, like the other beastfolk, was one of the races hunted by the emperor. But ten years ago, they were granted amnesty in exchange for offering the other cursed species as sacrifices to the emperor. The long years of exile and endless pursuits had finally broken the spirit of the Blade Bird Tribe.

“...!”

Karon visibly faltered upon hearing the mention of the Blade Bird Tribe. He had heard the story, of course. The Blade Bird Tribe was one of the most vocal groups calling for the emperor's downfall. Yet, in the end, they handed over their fellow beastfolk to save themselves and received amnesty in return. Now, they lived comfortably as nobility within the empire.

Could the Moon Rabbit Tribe be any different? Could Karon really be certain they wouldn’t follow the same path, especially when the survival of his people, the Flying Wolf Tribe, seemed to rest solely on his shoulders?

No, it’s entirely on me

.

Keter told Karon there were other survivors, like his older brother, Alioli.

Then maybe we can afford to take a little more risk.

The Flying Wolf Tribe was only hiding in Hacose Village. However, the Moon Rabbit Tribe was different; they had taken control of an entire noble family. They were in a far better situation than Karon and his people, who had no standing within the Sefira family. And, in all honesty, a thought crept into Karon’s mind.

Archery... isn’t enough to stand against the empire.

Of course, the divine power that Keter and Luke had displayed was impressive. But if they had wielded swords instead of bows, they would have been ten, even a hundred times stronger. On the other hand, a spear was not a bad weapon. It had potential, much like a sword.

Karon made up his mind. He was about to vocalize his resolve, but...

“Keter, up there!”

Luke, who had been resting, suddenly pointed to the sky. Everyone looked up, and they saw something falling rapidly from above. The three of them scattered in different directions as the object landed right in the middle of where they had been standing. It was clearly a human figure, except this one had wings.

Boom!

The folded wings unfurled, sending a cloud of dust into the air. Karon's body trembled as he saw who it was.

A human with wings descended from the sky. Their wings were not like those of a bird; they shone with a color and sharpness like steel. The upper body resembled that of a human, but the lower half was avian. This beastfolk was known to the world as the Blade Bird Tribe.

“Did you hear our slandering of the Blade Bird Tribe all the way to the empire?” Keter said with a hint of curiosity.

But everyone except Keter looked serious. This was understandable, as the Blade Bird Tribe were the emperor’s hunting dogs. If one of them appeared here, there could only be one reason: to hunt beastfolk.

“You.”

The blade bird, having landed and surveyed the surroundings, pointed at someone.

“Me?”

It was neither Karon, the flying wolf, nor Keter, who had slandered the Blade Bird Tribe. It was Jordic, the spear dragon of the Bydent family. The blade bird showed hostility toward Jordic as they spoke.

“You've been found, moon rabbit. If you surrender willingly, I will spare your human accomplices.”

At the blade bird’s wrong accusation, some became happy while others frowned.