MTLNOVEL Chapter 297
Chapter 298. Group Order (2)
Ivan didn’t apologize, but Keter, on the contrary, laughed and seemed pleased.
“If you had bent easily, I would’ve been disappointed. Still, you can open the gate, right? If you want to undergo body modification.”
“In exchange for opening the gate, you’ll let me undergo body modification?”
“What’s so great about opening a gate that you’re acting all high and mighty? If you keep being uncooperative, I’ll remove you from my client list.”
“Tch…”
In the end, it was Ivan who was left frustrated. Now that even his own Syndicate had turned their backs on him, Keter was his only hope.
Ivan rationalized it to himself.
‘I’ll confirm for myself whether Keter is truly trustworthy.’
Having convinced himself that opening the gate was for that purpose, Ivan reluctantly spoke.
“Fine. I’ll open the gate. But don’t get the wrong idea. It’s for my comrades.”
“Then, shall we deal with our first problem—the lustful dragon?”
Alisa, who had suddenly become a lustful dragon, looked at Keter with an intrigued expression.
“So, there’s really a man who can satisfy me?”
“Before that, the commission fee is 100 Dragon Jades.”
“Kilian already agreed to pay the commission fee.”
“That’s the fee for accepting your request. The reward for solving each individual request is separate. If you don’t want to pay, then don’t.”
Keter acted as if he had nothing to lose. And since it clearly wasn’t a bluff, Alisa crossed her arms.
“I’ll accept the logic of paying a commission fee. But 100 Dragon Jades is too much. I’ll give you 10.”
“What, are you trying to haggle with these tiny Dragon Jades? You need at least 100 to make a shirt. With 10, you can’t even make underwear.”
“Don’t underestimate Dragon Jades. Haven’t you heard that dragons are the race closest to gods?”
She snatched a Dragon Jade from Keter’s hand and stretched it left and right.
The Dragon Jade expanded to the size of a palm, maintaining its solid form.
“Dragon Jades can change shape according to the owner’s will. It’s impossible without Ain, but… since I can sense Ain within you, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“How far can you transform with just one Dragon Jade?”
“You can make a dagger. For armor, you’d need about three. So, 10 is already a huge amount. It’s a material superior to Orichalcon, and you don’t even need a blacksmith.”
“I’ll acknowledge that level of versatility. I’ll start the commission if you promise to teach me how to transform them.”
“Hmm, you’re thorough. Fine, let’s go with that condition. But introductions first.”
“Ivan. Open the gate to the coordinates I mentioned.”
“…Don’t order me around.”
Grumbling, Ivan immediately opened the gate to the coordinates Keter mentioned. Keter entered first, followed by Ivan and Alisa.
“There’s a man worth my time in a place like this? Don’t tell me he’s inside the Demon Realm?”
A dense forest. The boundary of the Demon Realm loomed right before their eyes. Keter scratched his chin.
‘This was Hyperion’s residence. It’s been swallowed by the Demon Realm.’
Setting aside the abnormal expansion speed of the Demon Realm, Keter spread his senses wide. Given Hyperion’s personality, it was clear he wouldn’t have gone far.
“What are you guys doing here?”
A voice came from above.
Keter looked up. There stood Hyperion, clearly furious, his fists clenched.
“It’s me. Hyperion.”
“What about the other two?”
“Why are you so prickly? Like a cat with a thorn in its butt.”
“…The successor of Kwonhwang. I’m Ivan.”
Ivan introduced himself first.
Meanwhile, Alisa openly scanned Hyperion from head to toe.
“This is Alisa. The dragon who’ll become your girlfriend.”
“What?”
Hyperion descended to the ground. Though he hadn’t done anything particularly special, Keter felt a tingling sensation on his skin.
‘He’s gotten stronger.’
The weak are not hasty. But Hyperion seemed impatient. Keter thought he knew why.
“You haven’t reached the realm of Prime yet, have you?”
“Tch, what’s that? It’s supposed to be hard.”
Hyperion’s irritation stemmed from not yet reaching the realm of Prime.
Though he said it was natural, he must have known it himself. The frustration of being the successor of Kwonhwang and still not becoming Prime.
Keter could see it in his eyes.
“I came to save you.”
“What nonsense have you been spouting since earlier? If you’re going to talk nonsense, at least cook something first.”
Even in his irritation, Hyperion remembered Keter’s cooking.
But Keter shook his head.
“She’ll be the one cooking now.”
Keter introduced Alisa again. Finally done observing, Alisa also spoke.
“The successor of Kwonhwang, right? How’s that guy doing?”
“What? That guy? You call my master ‘that guy’?!”
Crack!
The surrounding trees suddenly twisted. It was due to the aura Hyperion was emitting.
“Like master, like disciple. Getting worked up over nothing.”
“Just because you’re a woman, don’t think I’ll go easy on you! Apologize now.”
“What should I apologize for? Asking about Kwonhwang’s well-being?”
“Calling my master ‘that guy’!”
Is this really how Transcendent Beings converse? It’s ridiculously childish, but neither Ivan nor Keter found it strange. The more transcendent one is, the more they adhere to their emotions.
Some Transcendent Beings have lost their emotions, but those who still have them absolutely cannot tolerate being ignored.
“Then should I call him ‘that guy’ or ‘that woman’?”
“This woman is serious!”
Hyperion finally swung his fist.
But Alisa didn’t dodge. Though she looked like a delicate beauty, she was a dragon. Dragons don’t have the concept of ‘backing down.’
She met Hyperion’s fist with her own. But her fist was covered in golden scales—Dragon Jades.
Boom!
The moment Hyperion’s Clear Sky Thunder Fist and Alisa’s Dragon Jade-covered fist collided, a flash of light tore through the night sky.
Keter and Ivan watched the clash without backing away. After all, there’s nothing more entertaining than watching a fight.
Sssss…
Smoke rose from where their fists met.
“Did you pierce the Dragon Jade?”
“Yours is pierced too.”
Blood dripped from Hyperion’s fist. His invincible shield, the Iron Blood Divine Technique, had been broken by a single punch.
But Alisa wasn’t unscathed either. The Dragon Jade covering her fist had cracks that looked like they’d crumble at a touch.
A fierce collision. But Ivan and Keter had no intention of stopping the fight. Instead, they prepared for the next clash.
Sure enough, the two charged at each other again—
Smooch.
And soon, they were passionately kissing.
“……!”
“Ugh.”
Ivan’s eyes widened in shock, and Keter averted his gaze.
*
Keter returned with Ivan. It had been exactly 10 minutes since they left.
Tuska, who had been waiting, thought Keter had returned too early and failed Alisa’s commission.
“Why have only you two returned?”
To Tuska’s question, Keter responded with a profound expression.
“Do I look like someone who enjoys watching animals mate?”
Ivan also shook his head.
“What even is sexual desire…?”
“Oh? Did you solve Alisa’s problem? In just 10 minutes?”
“I didn’t expect it to be this easy either.”
Keter, mimicking Tuska’s tone, showed the Dragon Jades.
“Hahaha! Whoever the other party is, they must be a match made in heaven! I might get bored now, but it’s truly a blessing!”
“So, what’s your problem?”
Tuska, the man with a bucket on his head, was an enigma.
Not just because his face was hidden, but because he always seemed so composed, as if he lacked nothing.
“Hmm, unlike others, I’ve been cultivating my mind and body, so I’m not thirsty for emotions or desires.”
As Keter expected, Tuska admitted he had no particular desires.
“Then you’re dismissed.”
Though Kilian had promised to give the unsealed Artifact once all commissions were completed, Keter wasn’t obsessed with it.
But this attitude seemed to provoke Tuska.
“Wait a moment, Lord Keter. I’ve been very curious about your actions from the start. And curiosity is my greatest joy in life. Won’t you satisfy my curiosity? This is my commission.”
“What can you offer?”
“From what I’ve heard, you desire an Artifact. Unfortunately, I don’t have one, but I can offer this instead.”
Swish.
Tuska pulled out two books from his bucket.
-[Demon Sword of Heaven]
-[Reverse Heavenly Technique]
“The swordsmanship and cultivation techniques of a Transcendent Being once called the Sword Demon.”
“I’ve never heard of the Sword Demon. I’ll need to review the contents.”
“Hoho, the Sword Demon was a figure from 500 years ago, and his records were erased. It’s natural you haven’t heard of him.”
Ignoring Keter’s outstretched hand, Tuska fanned the books like a fan.
“What do you say? Satisfy my curiosity and become the owner of these?”
“How many questions do you have?”
“Hoho. Just three.”
“Deal. Ask away.”
No lies, no unnecessary details.
Even Ivan, who was watching, grew curious. What could Tuska possibly ask Keter?
“First question. How did you know about Toban’s trial and pass it?”
“If you’re asking two questions in one, I won’t answer.”
“Fine. Count it as two questions.”
Ivan’s focus sharpened at Tuska’s question. It was something he wanted to ask too.
‘Keter. If you’re not a regressor, how did you know about Toban’s information and pass the trial?’
Since Kilian had firmly stated Keter wasn’t a regressor, Ivan was even more curious.
Keter, seemingly resigned, opened his mouth.
“Toban’s information was told to me by my Heavenly Power master. I passed the trial thanks to Heavenly Power at the 7th stage. The power of Heavenly Jade.”
“Heavenly Power?”
“Heavenly Power!”
Ivan didn’t know what Heavenly Power was, but Tuska seemed to.
“What is the name of the master who taught you Heavenly Power?”
“Is that your last question?”
“This is an exception. You hid the exact information about who it was.”
“Okay, fine. I didn’t hide it. I don’t know either. He said I wasn’t qualified to know and didn’t tell me.”
“Hmm… Strange. Very strange.”
“You’re really dragging this out.”
“It’s not that. I know you’re not lying. But I can’t believe the information is true. You must be mistaken.”
“I’m mistaken?”
Keter had only spoken the truth.
This information was told to him by his Heavenly Power master, and he did pass the trial using Heavenly Power. It had nothing to do with regression, so he could easily share it.
But now Tuska was saying it was strange, which made Keter even more curious.
“I can use Heavenly Power too. Do you know why?”
“What, are we fellow disciples?”
“No. It’s because I’m the successor of the Giant race.”
“……?”
“Heavenly Power is originally a technique of the Giant race. Just as humans naturally learn to walk, Giants can use Heavenly Power from birth.”
“So?”
“Don’t you see the problem? Who exactly is the master who taught you Heavenly Power? Heavenly Power isn’t something that can be ‘taught.’ It’s like a bird teaching a human how to fly. Without wings, what’s the point of teaching flapping?”
“You’re making it sound like humans can’t use Heavenly Power, but there are humans other than me who can use it in Sephira. I taught them myself.”
“That’s impossible!”
Clatter!
The bucket trembled.
Ivan was shocked. It was the first time he’d seen Tuska so angry.
“The Heavenly Jade you mentioned is a realm only a few among the Giants can reach. It’s hard to believe you, a human, broke through it. But since you said you used Heavenly Jade to pass Toban’s trial… I can’t understand it.”
Keter stared at Tuska’s bucket-covered head. With no face visible, the voice was the only clue to detect lies.
And based on the voice alone, it didn’t seem like Tuska was deceiving him.
‘What does he gain by lying to me? But if he’s right, then what exactly did I do?’
Heavenly Jade was said to unlock human potential. That’s why he learned it and could teach it to others. This was certain.
But if Tuska said it wasn’t possible, then what had he actually done?
“Anyway, I’ve clearly answered your questions. Now ask your last one.”
“Hmm… I’ll have to ask a different question than I originally planned.”
Tuska paused for a moment, then spoke.
“Who are your parents?”
Another easy question. Keter answered immediately.
“My mother is Akra. My father is Basil. Is that strange too?”
Hearing Keter’s answer, Tuska exchanged a glance with Ivan.
“Basil, as in the Lord of the Basil family in Sephira. And Akra, who is she?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never even seen her face.”
“You don’t know either?”
Tuska asked Ivan, but Ivan also shook his head.
“I know all the major figures on the continent, but the name Akra doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Akra… Akra… Hmm, strange.”
Keter thought that if they knew about Akra, it would kill three birds with one stone.
But it seemed these two also had no clue about Akra.
“Anyway, I’ve answered all three questions. Hand over the technique books.”
Keter reached out his hand. Without a word, Tuska handed over the two books.
-[Demon Sword of Heaven]
-[Reverse Heavenly Technique]
“……!”
The moment Keter held them, he felt an intense chill.
‘They’re genuine.’
He could tell without reading. These were genuine, containing the essence of the Transcendent Being known as the Sword Demon.
‘Should I read a bit here?’
Tuska and Ivan were still pondering the name “Akra.” Since the other clients Kilian was bringing hadn’t arrived yet, there was a brief moment.
Just as Keter was about to turn the first page of [Demon Sword of Heaven]—
Whoosh!
Perfect timing, the fourth client appeared.
“Huh?”
“Ah.”
And he was someone very familiar to Keter.
“Seeing you so often is starting to get a bit boring. Ayrus.”
“…Keter. Why the hell are you here?”
The singing madman, Ayrus, had appeared as a member of the Syndicate.