I Am the Madman of This Family

Episode 9. I seduced you first (2)

Arriving at the entrance to the forge, Keter looked around.

The smithy in front of him was huge and magnificent. There was a strong smell of iron and earth, and the heat made a haze roll over.

“Hwiyu, it’s hot from here.”

I knew that there was a smithy in the Sephira family and the location, but it was the first time I had visited. In my previous life, I had no interest in archery at all.

I started using archery after the Sephira family was completely destroyed, and before that, everything I could get my hands on was my weapon.

In this life, I came to find the Demon Palace Amaranth, otherwise I would have been aiming for Sephira’s heirloom.

These are the three Artifact Bows, also known as the Three Gods.

The wind bow, ‘Tempest’, created by the collaboration between a human great mage and an elven spirit.

A super-heavy bow made of the world’s heaviest metal by the Dwarf King, ‘Agares’.

The last one is a ‘doppelganger’, a mimicry bow that transforms into any form.

If all of them were auctioned off, they were excellent artifacts that would receive at least 10 million gold.

However, this guy’s family has only one of those great heirlooms.

Even if it is said that Agares, a super heavy bow, is too heavy to lift unless it is a chosen one, Tempest does not use it to abide by the kingdom’s prohibition of magic.

The imitation bow doppelganger is said to be used by Sephira’s family head, my father.

If I hadn’t known of Amaranth’s existence, I would have aimed for Tempest.

“Please pause. Are you Master Keter?”

As I tried to enter the smithy, a soldier blocked me.

Seriously, all of them block it once and watch it.

“Why are you blocking it? I hope there is no reason. That will give me a reason to beat you.”

“Ugh, that’s it, this is a blacksmith’s shop, I wondered if the young master came to the wrong place.”

“It’s true that you came here knowing it was a forge.”

“I wonder what kind of business you are… … ?”

“Guess. One chance.”

The soldier licked his dry lips.

It wasn’t really his intention that he blocked Keter’s path. It’s just that his impression was so sharp that his instincts sensed that he was a dangerous person, so he blocked it with professionalism.

“fury… Did you come to see the bow?”

At the soldier’s words, Keter made a sad face.

“Good luck.”

“phew.”

The soldier let out a sigh of relief and naturally moved out of the way. He forgot why he had to be relieved and get out of the way.

“It’s filthy hot.”

I felt the heat at the entrance, but it couldn’t compare to the inside. Even in the middle of winter, I would sweat profusely here.

kang! kang!

The regular sound of hammering is heard from all directions. Glancing at the blacksmiths forging bows or arrows in real time, Keter pushed through the heat.

As they reached the end of the forge, the man Keter was looking for came out to meet him.

“What kind of guy are you? A face I haven’t seen before?”

A stocky body with a stocky stature. bushy beard. half-naked head. A middle-aged man who looks like a typical dwarf.

His name is Vulcanus. A half-dwarf of mixed human and dwarf blood, he was destined to be killed by magic bullets after three months.

In my previous life, I was an old man who only had a full name and had no ties… I intend to owe a lot in this life.

The power of archery can be amplified dozens of times not only with bows but also with arrows. In other words, to make the arrow I want, I need a lot of labor from an artisan like old man Vulcan.

Seeing the old man glaring at me, I feel very good.

“Keter.”

“Keter? Are you that Basil’s illegitimate son?”

“So you are a dwarf?”

The riotous blacksmith’s shop became quiet for an instant. The blacksmiths stopped their work and looked at Keter.

“To call the master a dwarf? Isn’t that guy crazy?”

Vulcanus, a half-dwarf, had blacksmithing skills that surpassed that of humans thanks to his dwarf blood, but he also had a past in which he was banished from the dwarf village long ago.

I don’t know what the reason is, but anyway. It was because he extremely hated being called a dwarf.

The soldier at the entrance who had been following Keter just in case made an excuse instead.

“Vulcanus. Master Keter didn’t maliciously call you a dwarf, so please understand. Master Keter. Lord Vulcanus hates the word dwarf.”

Keter shrugged.

“Is there any reason not to call a dwarf a dwarf?”

“Oh, no… … .”

“You guys are missing.”

Vulcanus, who had bitten the soldier, slung the large and long hammer he was holding onto his shoulder.

“Did you say Keter, kid?”

“Isn’t it pretty big for a kid?”

“No fun, no concept.”

Keter shrugged.

“Suddenly introduce yourself. I knew it anyway.”

“The rotten guy only lived with his mouth. what kind of confidence Are you sure Basil will protect you?”

“My body has been doing well on its own since I was born until now.”

Keter’s attitude of never backing down made the people around him even more anxious.

Vulcan said, expressing his displeasure by breaking his neck.

“Heh heh, man. The liver couldn’t come out of the stomach and became very skinny. I’d like to slash your face with this hammer, but for the sake of Basil’s face, I’ll give you a chance to make up for your mistake. I hate being called a dwarf. So fall down and apologize, and call me Vulcanus Blacksmith from now on.”

It was a notice.

Then Keter also notified.

“I also have the face of a father, so I will give you a chance. I don’t particularly hate being called an illegitimate son, but I hate being called an illegitimate son. Genius, madman, solver. Call me something like that.”

Those who watched the war of nerves between Keter and Vulcanus made dumb faces. I don’t hate the nickname bastard, but don’t call me bastard? What the hell does that mean?

However, Vulcan nodded as if he understood.

“Is that so? good night. I won’t call you bastard. Don’t call me a dwarf either.”

“Well, let’s see.”

“I’m a country guy, so if you don’t know manners, I’ll treat you with my generosity.”

“How about a handshake of reconciliation between fellow countrymen?”

Kether bent her knees and met Vulcan’s gaze.

Although Keter was tall, Vulcan’s muscle density and size were overwhelmingly greater. To shake hands with Vulcanus? Vulcan said, holding Keter’s hand with an expression that it went well.

“Welcome to Sephira, country boy.”

“I ask for your understanding from now on, Mr. Dwarf.”

Keter’s words shocked everyone once more.

I told you not to call me a dwarf, so you’re calling me a dwarf this time? Even holding hands with each other?

As if to show he wasn’t worried for nothing, Vulcanus with an angry face strained his arm, intending to cut off Keter’s hand.

Kwap!

The sound of skin tearing from the muscles just by exerting force.

‘That bastard is dead now.’

Everyone expected Keter to cry and beg for forgiveness.

But Keter was fine.

“Dwarf old man. I guess you haven’t had lunch yet?”

“… Who is this guy?”

Vulcan’s face grew redder and the veins in his arms swelled up.

Vulcan’s gripping power is enough to tear through thick wooden planks. It was superpower beyond human comprehension, but for some reason it didn’t work for Keter.

After a minute that seemed like an hour had passed, Keter withdrew her hand and said.

“I decided to say hello, I came to see the bow.”

To say that you came to see the bow in this atmosphere? The blacksmiths thought Keter must have been driven mad by the heat of the forge.

‘I’m out of my mind.’

‘I must be crazy.’

‘Make eye contact.’

Vulcanus glared at Keter, who calmly searched for the bow. In my 150 years of living, I have never seen a human who went crazy like this.

So, I was intrigued.

“Have you ever used a bow?”

“It’s 30 years of experience.”

“That’s no fun. Follow me, kid.”

He is a cheeky and arrogant person.

However, Vulcanus did not dislike Kether.

‘Unlike the guys these days, you have a pulpit. If it wasn’t for Sephira’s lineage, I’d want to make her a disciple.’

The Dwarf race has a mission that is like an obsession. Making excellent weapons and handing them over to those with the right qualifications.

Even if Vulcanus denied that he was a dwarf, he was born with dwarven blood.

Wanting to test Kether’s abilities, Vulcanus took him to the bow store.

* * *

A bow warehouse where countless bows are stored.

Wooden bows, iron bows made of minerals, horn bows made of horns. In addition, there were many bows of unknown material. What they had in common was that they were all bows.

Vulcan, still leaning his hammer on his shoulder, pointed at the bows with his chin and said.

“Countryman. this is the bow you wanted Pick one.”

Originally, it explained the type of bow, but it was not explained to Keter.

I liked Keter, but I liked the pulpit, not the personality. So, to get Keter out of the way, I brought him to the bow warehouse, where only defective items were stored.

I only collected defective items, but to the eyes of an ordinary person who does not know bows, it will look like a very excellent bow that is not inferior at all.

‘Guys who are full of vanity tend to choose big and flashy bows.’

There were a lot of bows here that snobbish people liked. Things that are more flashy than realistic. They were all made by Vulcan as a pastime or by other smiths out of vanity. Of course, nonetheless, they are well qualified to be called Myeonggung outside.

Kether passed by without looking closely at the bows, looked around, and approached one.

“Is this good?”

Keter picked up a jeweled bow. Vulcanus, who had been waiting for this moment, took a deep breath and exclaimed.

“I knew it would be like this. Even if I always pick one, it’s like half a penny like you… … .”

Knock.

Vulcan’s words did not follow. Keter removed the emerald from the tip of the bow.

“Yes?”

Vulcanus, who was about to shout, breathed in vain.

“Bo, jewelry? Who said you could take it!”

Keter put the jewel in her pocket and said.

“It was stuck in the trash in the first place, right? I’ll sell this and buy you a drink later.”

“Kuhm!”

Vulcan was never seduced by the offer to buy him a drink. He was taken aback by the fact that Keter said ‘rubbish’.

‘Does this guy know how to use a bow?’

Although the structure of the bow looks simple, it is the most complex structure and the most difficult to manufacture among all weapons.

If the overall balance is not perfect, the durability will drop significantly, and you will not be able to shoot arrows in the desired direction.

Vulcanus shook his head. Even to himself, the jewel-encrusted arrow looked very suspicious.

“Trash! You saw the bow with your own eyes, but never touched it. Don’t pretend you know.”

“You can see it with your own eyes.”

“Hot hot hot. Are you saying you became a dwarf?”

Unlike humans, the descendants of gods have special abilities from birth. In the case of Dwarves, it is said that you can roughly tell the value of equipment just by looking at it with your eyes.

“I drink well like a dwarf.”

“Stop talking nonsense and pick a bow. You can’t leave until you choose one.”

There are over a hundred bows here.

And all of them are trash.

Whatever you choose, it’s all bad anyway. There was no hole for Keter to escape.

‘You’re going to choose a bow only with your eyes? How dare you show such a bluff in front of me.’

While Vulcanus clenched his fists, Keter clicked his tongue and murmured.

“Everything here is garbage… What is this box?”

After treating all the bows hanging on the wall as trash, Keter stopped in front of a box. Vulcan slammed the floor with his hammer and said,

“You don’t have to look at that box. It is just a collection of unfinished products.”

“is it so?”

When told not to, it was Keter who did more.

But more than anything else, it wasn’t just because Keter was suspicious that she stood in front of the box.

Amaranth is calling. The Demon Palace Amaranth he was looking for was right here.

In the box in front of her eyes, Amaranth tempted her with her thoughts. I promise to give you absolute invincible power, honor and wealth. that I would give you everything

Meanwhile, Vulcan yelled at Keter for not listening to him.

“There’s nothing to pick up from there, so choose from the ones hanging on the wall!”

“Wait a minute.”

Keter took all the bows out of the box and picked up one bow from the bottom.

It was like a pitch-black bow carved out of darkness.

“Hey, you’ve been hiding this.”

“Wait a minute! How did you find that out!”

Vulcan shouted and raised his hammer and approached Kether. It was a threatening atmosphere, as if they would hit it with a hammer at any moment, but Keter spoke calmly.

“Dwarf inspiration. This is a place where only trash bows are gathered anyway. But I wondered if there was a need to put a box with unfinished items. Sure enough, there is something like this at the bottom of the box?”

As Keter waved his jet-black bow, Vulcanus spoke earnestly.

“Put it down. It’s a bow that shouldn’t come out in this world.”

“Hoo. Having said that, I want more.”

“This is no joke, you bastard! That’s the cursed Demon Bow!”

Vulcanus raised his hammer as if he were about to strike it. However, Keter does not give in to threats even when a knife is inserted into his throat.

“It’s a demon palace… … .”

Keter muttered as if she didn’t know, and looked at the jet-black bow.

Amaranth, who summoned me, attempted to control my mind as soon as I picked up the bow. When I blocked that attempt with only my mental power, I felt Amaranth panic and run amok.

Cute bastard, did you want to catch a Hogu well?

But what about this

you’ve been kidnapped

“This guy is a very dangerous bastard. right?”

Keter’s tone is full of mischief.

Beads of sweat flowed from Vulcan’s forehead. he knows The fear of the demon palace. So I couldn’t afford to accept Keter’s jokes.

“It is the last warning. put down the bow You’d think you’d found the bow, but it’s the other way around. The bow seduced you.”

“no.”

Keter held out her palm and made a determined face. Then he made a V with his thumb and forefinger and placed it on his chin.

“I seduced you first.”

“What!?”

“If this guy could seduce anyone, there’s no reason he’s stuck here all this time, right? Anyone would have caught it. But why did he only react to me? That’s because I have a fatal attraction.”

At Keter’s words, the muscles in Vulcan’s face shifted to the center.

That expression of contempt and absurdity is what people usually call it.

‘The expression of looking at a madman.’

Even Vulcanus learned what kind of person Keter was in just one hour.