MTLNOVEL Chapter 300
Chapter 301. The Secret of Birth (2)
King Kwonseong emerged from the darkness.
A bushy beard, fierce eyes. A towering stature reaching two meters.
Even if you forced it, there wasn’t a single resemblance to the handsome Keter. Not even a speck.
But King Kwonseong spread his arms and said, “Come here. Let me hug you.”
Though the words themselves carried no hostility, the evil emanating from his expression was no less than that of a Demon King.
Keter did not approach. It wasn’t just because of the evil expression.
“We don’t look alike at all, so why are you insisting you’re my father?”
It would be normal to think he’s just a madman forcing his delusions, but Keter, being a madman himself, understood the mindset of a madman.
King Kwonseong Kron was not insane. He genuinely believed Keter was his son. This made Keter curious about the basis of his belief.
Kron stroked his rough beard and muttered, “Indeed, you don’t resemble me. But it’s certain that you carry the blood of our Yaksha tribe. And I am the last survivor of the Yaksha tribe. Therefore, you are my son.”
“What’s the Yaksha tribe?”
“An ancient guardian clan that fought against evil gods and protected their seals. Look.”
Kron turned his body sideways. From the darkness, five orbs appeared.
Inside the fist-sized orbs, grotesque monsters were carved.
“Can you see their forms?”
“Yes, I can see them. They’re quite modest for evil gods.”
“Hehe. The fact that you can see the evil gods beyond the orbs, and that your mind remains intact, proves you are of the Yaksha tribe. No other race can see the true form of evil gods without divine power, and even with divine power, their minds would be corrupted by the evil gods’ aura. But look at you. You’re perfectly fine.”
“…Is that so?”
Just as a fish living in the sea breathes underwater, Keter didn’t feel deeply moved by the idea that seeing evil gods was a “privilege of the Yaksha tribe.”
‘No. I might consider it possible. But I’m of the Sephira clan, aren’t I?’
The Sephira clan all had golden eyes and purple pupils.
This wasn’t just a superficial trait; it granted them hawk-like vision and immunity to the constraints of darkness.
‘If what he says is true, then I’m both of the Sephira clan and the Yaksha tribe?’
Even for Keter, who wasn’t bound by common sense, this was absurd. Keter decided to ask, just in case.
“Are you, by any chance, female?”
“What?”
Kron looked at Keter as if he were insane. Keter waved his hand dismissively.
“No, look. My father is Basil of the Sephira clan. These eyes are proof of that. But if what you’re saying is true, then I have both Sephira and Yaksha blood. That would mean you and Basil…”
“Enough. Wasn’t the name of the woman who bore you Akra?”
“Uh, yes.”
“Then you are indeed my son. The Sephira clan? You must be mistaken.”
Keter was genuinely confused. More than the day he experienced regression.
He had thought Kron was clearly mistaken, but then he mentioned Akra’s name.
Something was wrong.
Two men were claiming Akra as their wife and Keter as their son.
Including the two who claimed to be his father in the Sephira clan, that made four people claiming Keter as their son. And each had their own “evidence.”
Still unaware of the Sephira clan’s circumstances, Keter decided to focus solely on King Kwonseong before him.
“Akra. Where is my mother? If I ask her, I’ll get the answer, right?”
In the Sephira clan, Akra’s whereabouts were unknown. But Kron clearly seemed to know about Akra.
“That’s what I want to ask you. Shouldn’t you know where Akra is? She’s the one who gave birth to and raised you.”
Keter held his forehead.
“I grew up in Ruquer. I didn’t even know who my parents were.”
“Well, anyway, the wait was worth it.”
“Anyway?”
Kron spoke as if it didn’t matter. Keter was dumbfounded.
“Akra promised to bear my successor and took my seed. That was 50 years ago. I’ve waited a long time. Now, I’ll educate you to become the guardian of this place.”
King Kwonseong only said what he wanted to say. That was definitely a point of resemblance with Keter.
“I never agreed to that.”
“Hoho, a son defying his father’s words. How bold.”
As the vanished pressure reappeared, Keter could feel it.
Even if Kron were truly his father, to him, a “son” was nothing more than a “tool.”
The warmth and joy he had just shown were like the reaction of uncorking a long-stored bottle of alcohol.
Twitch.
Keter’s lips twitched.
He had been angry many times in his life. But each time, he resolved it through fighting. Either the opponent died, or he did.
Thus, the emotion of “rage” was unfamiliar to Keter. He had always vented it before it fully formed.
But the moment he realized that Kron, who might be his father, treated him as a “tool,” rage surged to the top of his head. This wasn’t something that could be resolved through fighting.
Nor was it something that could be resolved through conversation. Kron wasn’t that kind of person.
The fact that this problem couldn’t be solved through dialogue or violence, and that the target was his own father, made Keter feel irritation and rage boiling up throughout his body.
“In a mad world, the one who isn’t mad is the mad one.”
A surge of energy rose from Keter’s entire body. All the accumulated power of Ain. And even the power of the Five Elements Divine Artifact, Toban. He drew out everything.
Even if his opponent was his father, an existence beyond a Transcendent Being, Keter had not the slightest intention of yielding.
There was no chance of winning.
Keter knew that too. The power of Ain he possessed was also held by Kron, and the power of the Five Elements Divine Artifact, a fragment of a god, would be powerless against Kron’s strength. Even if he used Heavenly Power and Mandala, he might last a minute, but ultimately, he would lose.
But even knowing this, he fought. That was Keter’s life.
“Heh heh, hahahaha!”
At that moment, Kron burst into laughter. A hearty laugh that made Keter’s resolve seem insignificant.
“Yes, that’s it! That’s my son! Hahahaha!”
“……?”
“Why are you standing so seriously? Come here.”
The atmosphere completely changed. Keter, filled with rage from head to toe, couldn’t immediately understand the situation and just glared at Kron.
“No need to be shy.”
Snap.
Kron snapped his fingers, and Keter found himself in front of him. Despite having anticipated and prepared to defend.
“Hmm, your face resembles mine, very handsome. And you’ve trained decently.”
Kron examined Keter closely, touching him.
Only then did Keter relax his stance.
“What is this?”
“Relax. I have no intention of keeping you here like me. I also don’t want to take on the role of guardian. I can’t force my son to do what I dislike.”
“You were testing me.”
“If you were a spineless fool who yielded to power, you couldn’t be considered a Yaksha or my son. In that regard, you’ve passed.”
“…I don’t consider you my father.”
“It doesn’t matter. I believe you’re my son. If I believe it, I don’t need anyone else’s opinion.”
Keter let out a hollow laugh at his words.
‘He thinks just like me.’
Belief shouldn’t be swayed by others. Keter began to think that Kron might indeed be his father.
Which made it even stranger.
‘Even if it’s not a case of remarriage, and considering the traits of bloodlines, is that biologically possible?’
To put it bluntly, even if Akra had been intimate with both Basil and Kron, and Keter was born from that, he should have inherited only one of their bloodline abilities.
But how could he possess both? This had nothing to do with who his real father was.
‘If that were possible, other families would have tried it.’
Even if Akra were of the Yaksha tribe, this would be impossible. Bloodline abilities are inherited from only one parent, not both.
Of course, there are extremely rare cases where both are inherited, but that’s one in a million.
Unless it was such a case, Keter felt his head might explode.
‘Ugh. The more I learn about my mother, the more complicated it gets.’
And how to deal with this awkward atmosphere?
Fortunately, Kron, who also seemed to dislike the awkwardness, spoke first.
“Keter. You came here as a Solver, didn’t you? I didn’t call you expecting this, but it seems you might be able to fulfill my request.”
“You’re not going to ask me to become the guardian of this place, are you?”
“That’s not what I want. But how about for a day?”
“You want me to guard this place for just a day?”
“Of course, on your own, you wouldn’t last a minute here. So, I’ll lend you my authority for a while. Even if you’re weak, you’ll last three days.”
“You said a day earlier.”
“Even if you can last that long, given your personality, I think you’ll only last a day, so I’ll return in a day.”
“Hmm.”
The first impression was trash, but that didn’t matter. Keter only weighed the pros and cons of the current situation.
“How can I trust that you’ll return?”
“I’ll give you my heart. If I don’t return, crush it.”
“What about the reward?”
“Tell me what you want.”
The confidence that he could give Keter anything he desired. That confidence resonated with Keter. It seemed like even if he asked for one of the Five Elements Divine Artifacts, he would give it.
At that moment, Keter thought of a trick.
“Give me the overdue gifts.”
“Gifts……?”
“You believe I’m your son, right? Then as a father, you should give me birthday gifts. I’m eighteen now, and next month I’ll be nineteen… so I should receive nineteen overdue gifts.”
“That’s a reasonable point. I also received birthday gifts from my father every year until I became an adult. Since you’re not yet an adult, you’re entitled to birthday gifts.”
“And tell me how you met my mother and how I came to be. As your son, I should know.”
“That’s also your right. I’ll tell you.”
Seeing Kron agree so favorably, Keter’s excitement faded.
“There’s something else, isn’t there?”
“You’re quick. If you, as my son, consider me your father, then you must also fulfill your role as my son.”
“Guardian?”
“I have no intention of making you a guardian. Don’t ask about that anymore.”
“Then what is it?”
“I can’t tell you.”
With a firm expression, Keter didn’t ask further and fell into thought.
A gift from an absolute being would never be light. Moreover, the chance to gain information about Akra was tempting.
But behind every tempting offer lies an equal price.
At this moment, not knowing what price would follow—
“Deal.”
Keter’s curiosity was piqued.
While Keter, having gained enlightenment, collected artifacts and took on Syndicate requests—the family war between Sephira and Baydant reached its climax.
“I request negotiations, Branch House Lord of Sephira.”
Jordic, the vanished Lord of Baydant, had returned and immediately requested negotiations with Hisop.
The tide had already turned heavily in Sephira’s favor. The princes’ support had not come. No, it had been cut off.
Baydant was isolated and abandoned.
Now, Jordic had two choices left. Resist to the end, dragging Sephira into a muddy fight. Or surrender to Sephira.
Cruelly speaking, Hisop had no reason to accept Jordic’s negotiation. Slowly tightening Baydant’s lifeline would, though taking a bit more time, safely subdue Baydant.
But Hisop accepted Jordic’s negotiation.
“Welcome, Lord Jordic.”
Jordic had prepared to face stones or eggs, but Sephira welcomed him as if his preparations were meaningless.
It wasn’t deceit or trickery. On his way, he had seen with his own eyes that Baydant’s prisoners were being treated well.
“Lord Jordic. Let’s end this family war. There’s no reason for fellow kingdom citizens to fight over the princes’ power struggle.”
Hisop got straight to the point.
Jordic agreed, but he felt that if he didn’t speak his mind, he would regret it for life.
“Are you accepting Baydant’s surrender? Even after all the torment and hatred, even though we were the ones who declared war.”
In response to Jordic’s sincere question, Hisop pondered briefly and said, “I don’t believe hatred should be repaid with hatred. But don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying we’ll erase all the past.”
“Ah……”
Jordic’s expression darkened. That meant Baydant would have to pay the price for their sins.
Jordic understood it as accepting surrender but not allowing them to live unscathed.
“Admit your mistakes and apologize. That much is non-negotiable.”
“……?”
Thinking the Baydant family was finished, Jordic’s head, which had bowed on its own, rose again.
‘Just an apology?’
Unaware of Jordic’s inner thoughts, Hisop maintained a firm expression.
“I won’t accept excuses like mistakes or misunderstandings.”
“…Is that all?”
“A sincere apology. What more is needed for reconciliation? Not just me, but all of Sephira will forgive Baydant.”
If Crown Prince Rukan or Second Prince Rakan had said such a thing, Jordic wouldn’t have believed it for a second.
But Hisop?
‘If it’s you, I’d believe it’s sincere.’
It wasn’t just Hisop’s decision. It must have been a conclusion reached with the agreement of all Sephira.
‘This is absurd.’
Jordic couldn’t bear to look at Hisop’s face.
It was too dazzling, making himself and the Baydant family seem too shabby and gloomy.
“…I accept.”
It’s not without humiliation. Jordic’s inner self was screaming in rage. How could a man bow his head to someone of the same age?
But Jordic ignored his inner voice.
No, it wasn’t an inner voice to begin with.
‘Petty pride. I will no longer listen to you.’
Forgiving, admitting mistakes, and apologizing are things anyone can do, but not everyone does.
But Hisop forgave, and Jordic admitted his mistakes and apologized.
The endless chain of hatred. The blood-stained path of revenge could be severed so easily, so futilely.
Thus, the family war between Baydant and Sephira came to an end.
But peace did not come. Both Hisop and Jordic knew this war was just the beginning. Thus, they did not let go of their tension.
As expected, a royal decree arrived from the royal palace.
“The Sephira family, who have mocked the sacred laws of the Lilian Kingdom and conspired with foreign forces to commit the grave crime of treason, are to disband all their soldiers immediately, and Lord Basil is to appear before the royal palace to face the judgment of the law.”
Crown Prince Rukan and Second Prince Rakan, unable to tolerate Sephira’s revival and growth any longer, had personally stepped forward to annihilate Sephira.