I'm the Crazy One in the Family-Chapter 298: Group Order (2)

Ivan didn’t apologize, but Keter instead smiled and seemed pleased.

“I would’ve been rather disappointed if you gave up easily. Still, you can at least open a gate for me, right? If you want to receive the Human Modification Technique, that is.”

“So in exchange for opening the gate, you’ll give me the Human Modification Technique?”

“What’s such a big deal about opening a gate that you’re acting like it’s something significant? If you keep being uncooperative, I’ll remove you from my client list.”

“Argh....”

In the end, the one in the disadvantage was Ivan. Keter was his only hope now that he had even been abandoned by the Syndicate.

Ivan rationalized it to himself.

I’m just checking from the sidelines whether Keter is really someone I can trust.

After finishing his self-hypnosis, convincing himself that opening the gate was for that purpose, Ivan spoke as if he had no other choice.

“Fine. I’ll open the gate. But don’t get the wrong idea. This is for the sake of my comrades.”

“Then, shall we start by dealing with our lust-driven dragon first?”

Alisa, who had suddenly been labeled a lust-driven dragon, looked at Keter with an intrigued expression.

“You’re saying there’s really a man who can satisfy me?”

“Before that, the commission fee is one hundred dragon scales.”

“I thought Killian was paying the commission fee.”

“That’s just for accepting your request in the first place. The reward for resolving each individual request is separate. If you don’t like it, then forget it.”

Keter acted as though he had nothing to lose at all. And because it was clear that this was no bluff, Alisa crossed her arms.

“I’ll acknowledge your logic for charging a fee, but one hundred dragon scales is excessive. I’ll give you ten.”

“What, you’re trying to negotiate with dragon scales that are barely the size of a finger? I would need at least a hundred just to make a shirt. I wouldn’t even be able to make underwear with ten.”

“Don’t underestimate dragon scales. Haven’t you even heard that dragons are the closest species to the gods?”

At some point, she had snatched the dragon scale from Keter and pulled on it with both hands. The scale stretched to the size of a palm while maintaining its firm property.

“Dragon scales can change their form according to the owner’s will. It’s impossible without Ein, but... I can feel Ein within you, so that won’t be a problem.”

“How much can you transform with a single scale?”

“You can modify it enough to make a dagger. For armor, you would need about three, maybe? So even ten sheets is actually an enormous amount. It’s better material than orichalcum, and you don’t even need a blacksmith.”

“With that level of versatility, I’ll accept it. If you promise to also teach me how to transform it, I’ll start the commission.”

“Hmph, you’re quite the thorough one, huh. Alright, let’s go with those terms. But introductions come first.”

“Ivan, open the gate at the coordinates I told you,” Keter said to Ivan.

“... Don’t give me orders,” Ivan answered.

Even while grumbling, Ivan immediately opened the gate at the coordinates Keter had specified. Keter entered first, with Ivan and Alisa following behind.

“There’s a man worth using in a place like this? He’s not in the Demon Capital, is he?”

In a dense forest, the boundary of the Demon Capital shimmered right before their eyes.

Keter scratched his chin.

This used to be where Hyperion stayed. Now it’s been swallowed by the Demon Capital.

Setting aside the abnormal speed at which the Demon Capital was expanding, Keter thought optimistically. Given Hyperion’s personality, there was no way he had gone far.

Just then, a voice came from above their heads.

“Who the hell are you guys?”

Keter looked up. Standing there was Hyperion, clearly furious, his fists clenched tight.

“Hyperion, it’s me,” Keter replied.

“I was asking who the other two are.”

“Why are you so angry like a cat with a thorn stuck in its butt?”

Ivan introduced himself first. “You must be the successor of the Fist Emperor. I am Ivan.”

On the other hand, Alisa blatantly scanned Hyperion from head to toe.

Then Keter answered instead. “This is Alisa. The dragon who will be your girlfriend.”

Hyperion descended to the ground. “What?”

Keter hadn’t done anything in particular, yet he felt a sharp prickling sensation on his skin.

He’s gotten stronger over time.

The weak weren’t impatient, but Hyperion looked rushed, and Keter thought he knew why.

“You still haven’t reached the realm of Prime.”

“Tsk, so what? It has always been a difficult thing.”

The reason Hyperion was so bad-tempered was that he hadn’t been able to become a Prime. He spoke as if it were only natural, but he was well aware of the sense of defeat that came from being the successor of the Fist Emperor and still failing to reach Prime.

Even Keter could tell.

“That’s why I came to save you.”

“What kind of nonsense have you been saying since earlier? If you’re just going to talk useless crap, at least cook something first.”

Even though Hyperion was annoyed, he still remembered the taste of Keter’s food.

However, Keter shook his head. “From now on, this woman will cook for you.”

Keter introduced Alisa once more. Only then, as if she had finished her observations, did Alisa finally talk.

“You’re the successor of the Fist Emperor, huh? And how’s that guy doing?”

“What? That guy? Did you call my master ‘that guy’?!”

The surrounding trees suddenly twisted. It was purely from the force Hyperion was unleashing.

“Master and student alike. You’re exactly like him, getting worked up over something so trivial.”

“You think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re a woman? Not a chance! Apologize right now.”

“Apologize for what? For asking how the Fist Emperor is doing?”

“For calling my master ‘that guy’!”

Was this really a conversation between Transcendentals? It was childish beyond belief, but neither Ivan nor Keter found it strange. Transcendentals tended to faithfully act on their emotions, after all. Some Transcendentals lost their emotions altogether, but those who still retained them never tolerated having them ignored.

“Then what should I call him, if not ‘that guy’? Should I call him ‘that bitch’ instead?”

“This woman!”

Hyperion eventually swung his fist, but Alisa didn’t dodge. Though she appeared to be a delicate beauty, she was a dragon, and the concept of backing down didn’t exist for them. She met the Fist Emperor’s punch with her own. Only, her fist was covered in dragon scales.

The instant the Fist Emperor’s Sudden Thunderfist From The Blue collided with the dragon-scaled fist, a flash of light erupted and tore the night sky.

Keter and Ivan didn’t retreat, rather watching the two collide. After all, nothing in the world was more entertaining than watching a fight.

Smoke rose from between their collided fists.

“Did he pierce the dragon scales?”

“The same goes for him as well.”

Blood flowed from Hyperion’s fist. The invincible shield he was proud of, Divine Ironblood Physique, had cracked from a single blow.

However, Alisa wasn’t unscathed either. Cracks formed across the dragon scales covering her fist and looked as though they would shatter with a touch.

It was a violent clash, yet neither Ivan nor Keter had the slightest intention of stopping the fight. Instead, they prepared themselves for the two to clash again. Sure enough, they charged at each other again at the same time. Then, they were rubbing against one another, locked in a fierce kiss.

“Wow.”

Ivan’s eyes widened, and Keter turned his gaze away.

***

Keter returned together with Ivan. It had been exactly ten minutes since they had left.

Tuska, who had remained behind, assumed Alisa’s commission had failed because Keter had come back far too quickly.

“Why have only the two of you returned?”

At Tuska’s question, Keter, with a profound expression, replied, “Because I don’t have a taste for watching beasts mate.”

Ivan also shook his head and said, “How can sexual desire be so intense...”

“Oh? Has Alisa’s problem been resolved? In a mere ten minutes?” 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Keter held up the dragon scales, imitating Tuska’s way of speaking. “I didn’t think it would be resolved this easily either.”

“Bahaha! I don’t know who the other person was, but it seems she found her destined match! It may leave me more bored now, but it is truly a blessing!”

“So then, what kind of problem might you have?” Keter asked in return.

The man wearing a bucket, Tuska, was someone whose inner thoughts were impossible to read. Partly because his face was hidden by the bucket, but also because his constant easygoingness made him seem like someone with nothing he particularly lacked.

“Hmm, unlike the others, I have trained both body and mind, so I do not thirst for emotions or desires.”

Just as Keter had expected, Tuska admitted there was nothing he particularly wanted.

“Then we’ll skip you.”

Killian had said that he would give an unsealed artifact once everyone’s commissions were completed, and although Keter understood its value, he didn’t persist in asking. That very attitude, however, ended up provoking Tuska.

“Wait a moment, Keter. In truth, I have been extremely curious about your achievements from the very beginning, and curiosity is the greatest joy of my life. Would you please resolve my curiosity? That shall be my commission.”

“What can you offer?”

“From what I hear, you seem to desire an artifact. Unfortunately, I do not possess any artifacts, but I shall give you these instead.”

Tuska slipped his hand into the bucket and pulled out two booklets. Wall of Ten Thousand Demons Sword and Divine Heaven Defiance.

“These contain the sword techniques and training method of a Transcendental once known as the Sword Demon.”

“I’ve never heard the name Sword Demon before. I’ll need to review the contents.”

“Hehe. The Sword Demon was one from five hundred years ago, and one whose records were erased. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t know.”

Tuska ignored Keter’s outstretched hand asking to see them, fluttering the booklets like a fan.

“What will you do? Will you resolve my curiosity and become the owner of these?”

“How many questions do you have?”

“Hehe. Just three.”

“Deal. Ask away.”

Rather than bothering with whether to lie or not, Keter decided to skip the pointless parts entirely.

Seeing them, Ivan also became curious about what Tuska was planning to ask Keter.

“First question. How did you know of the Terra Ring’s trial, and how were you able to pass it?”

“If you’re going to ask two questions at once, then no deal.”

“Very well. I’ll count that as two questions.”

Ivan’s focus sharpened at Tuska’s questions. It was something he himself had wanted to ask.

Keter, if you’re not a regressor, then how in the world did you know about the Terra Ring’s trial and pass it?

Because Killian had confirmed Keter wasn’t a regressor, Ivan’s curiosity had only grown.

In response, Keter said as if he had no choice, “I learned about the Terra Ring from my Heavenly Strength master. Passing the trial was thanks to reaching Heavenly Strength Level 7, and the power of the Heavenly Prison.”

“Heavenly Strength?”

“Heavenly Strength!”

Ivan had no idea what Heavenly Strength was, but Tuska looked as though he did.

“What is the name of the master who taught you Heavenly Strength?”

“Is that your last question?” Keter asked.

“This is an exception. You concealed the specific information of who it was.”

“Okay, fair enough. I didn’t hide it. I genuinely don’t know. He said I didn’t have the right to know and never told me.”

“Hmm... strange. Very strange."

“You’re really dragging things out instead of saying you don’t believe me.” Keter shrugged.

“That’s not it. I know, at least, that you did not lie. However, I do not believe that information to be true. Even you are mistaken.”

“I’m mistaken?”

Keter had said nothing but the truth. This information had come directly from his Heavenly Strength master, and it was also true that he had passed using Heavenly Strength. Because it had nothing to do with regression, he thought it was safe to explain. Yet, Tuska suddenly claimed it was strange, which only made Keter more curious.

“I can use Heavenly Strength as well. Do you know why?” Tuska asked.

“What, because we had the same master?”

“No, because I am the descendant of the giants.”

Keter became confused.

“Heavenly Strength is a technique of the giants. Just as humans naturally learn how to walk, giants are able to use Heavenly Strength from the moment they are born.”

“So?”

“Do you not see what the problem is? Who was this master who supposedly taught you Heavenly Strength? Heavenly Strength is not something that can be taught to someone. That’s like a bird teaching a human how to fly. What use is teaching someone how to flap when they don’t have wings?”

“You’re talking as if humans can’t use Heavenly Strength at all, but there’s another human in Sefira besides me who uses Heavenly Strength. I taught it myself,” Keter said.

“That’s impossible!”

Tuska’s bucket trembled.

Ivan was surprised. It was the first time he had ever seen Tuska this angry.

“Even the Heavenly Prison you mentioned is something only a small number of giants can reach. It is difficult to believe a human like you achieved it. Yet, you claim that you passed the Terra Ring’s trial using Heavenly Prison... I simply cannot comprehend that.”

Keter looked at Tuska’s head. With his face hidden, there was nothing but his voice to judge whether he was lying. And from his voice alone, it didn’t feel as though Tuska was deceiving him.

What would he gain by lying to me? But if what he says is true, then none of this adds up.

Heavenly Prison was said to be a technique that unleashed human potential. That was why Keter had learned it, and why he could teach it to others. This much was certain. But if Tuska insisted that was not the case, then what exactly had Keter been using?

“Either way, I answered your questions. Ask your final one.”

“Hm... I’ll have to ask a different question from the one I originally intended.” Tuska hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, “Who are your parents?”

Once again, it was an easy question to answer.

Keter immediately replied, “My mother is Akrah, and my father is Besil. Is something about this strange too?”

After hearing Keter’s answer, Tuska exchanged a glance with Ivan.

“By Besil, you must be referring to Lord Besil of Sefira. But who is this Akrah, and where is she from?”

“I don’t know either. I’ve never even seen her face.”

“Do you not know either?” Tuska asked Ivan.

Ivan shook his head. “I’m familiar with every major figure throughout the continent, but there is no one named Akrah.”

“Akrah... Akrah... Hmm, that’s odd.”

Keter had secretly hoped that if they knew something about Akrah, it would be killing three birds with one stone. However, it seemed that those two didn’t know anything about Akrah as well.

Keter held out his hand and gestured to hand over the booklets. “In any case, I’ve answered all three questions as agreed. Hand over the manuals.”

Without a word of complaint, Tuska placed the two booklets into Keter’s hand.

The moment Keter grabbed them, he felt an overwhelming chill.

They’re real.

He could tell without even reading them. They were authentic, containing the entirety of the essence of the Transcendental once known as the Sword Demon.

Should I take a look at them here?

Tuska and Ivan were occupied, trying to recall the name Akrah, and the other clients Killian was supposedly summoning hadn’t arrived yet either. This left Keter with a bit of time to read them.

Just as Keter was about to turn the first page of Wall of Ten Thousand Demons Sword, the fourth client appeared.

“Huh?”

“Oh.”

And it was someone Keter was extremely familiar with.

“I see you so often that I’m starting to get a bit sick of you, Ailos.”

“... Keter? Why are you here?”

The singing madman, Ailos, appeared, apparently a member of the Syndicate.