This Time, Let's Go Farther
After exorcising the evil spirit clinging to Leo and driving off Crassus, Kim Sung-tae and his group headed toward the village. As they passed through the forest and the village came into view in the distance, Leo bowed his head and expressed his gratitude to Sung-tae.
"Thank you, senior. If it weren't for you, I couldn't have defeated the demon king."
"No need to thank me. It's just what a hero should do."
"Um... Were you the same as me, senior?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Hesitating, unsure how to put it into words, Leo confessed the feelings stirring inside him.
"After defeating the demon king, I just... I don't feel like fighting other demon kings anymore. This morning, just hearing the word 'demon king' made my heart feel like it would burst. Now, I'm even wondering why I fought in the first place."
"Hmm."
So it really was that evil spirit manipulating him.
With the spirit gone, Leo was now just an ordinary boy, no longer bound by fate.
"What do you want to do?"
"I, I..."
The boy stared at Sung-tae without a word. From that gaze, Sung-tae could tell exactly what Leo wanted.
He wants to travel with me!
He's a shy kid. Must've been lonely traveling alone. He's desperately clinging to the first companion who opened up to him.
Having Leo as a companion would be convenient. He was strong. He'd be a cool hero who'd take out enemies before Sung-tae even had to fight.
But that sounds kinda annoying.
Sung-tae didn't dislike Leo. But now, Leo was just an ordinary boy without his hero powers. Sung-tae already knew what his own adventures would be like.
I'm planning to go to dangerous places. Dragging him along would just be a hassle.
The epic adventures he truly craved were nothing short of spectacular; he was never going to be satisfied with mere sightseeing in this sprawling fantasy world, but instead, he hungered to witness terrifying monsters firsthand, encounter various legendary heterogeneous races, and completely immerse himself in every possible experience this vibrant realm had to offer.
But traveling with a kid who no longer had hero powers and followed him devotedly? Over half his planned trips would be off-limits.
Not that he disliked him, but the hassle was unavoidable.
Traveling together might not be the best idea.
"Senior?"
"Hold on a sec."
Sung-tae pulled a scroll from his pocket. Sensing the uneasy atmosphere, Leo panicked and shouted.
"S-Senior!?"
"It's a teleport scroll. Tear it, and it'll send you somewhere on the continent."
Actually to the Demon King Castle, but whatever.
"D-Do you dislike me?"
"No. You're a good kid. I don't dislike you."
You're too nice, that's the problem. Why would you wanna rely on a guy like me?
Sung-tae's fingers slowly tore the scroll. Unable to control his trembling, Leo burst into tears.
"You're strong. But you're lacking. Your heart is weak. Instead of depending on others, be someone they can depend on—that's true strength. If you travel with me, you'll keep relying on me and never grow stronger."
"If I get stronger... will you travel with me then?"
"Of course!"
With that, Sung-tae tore the scroll. Light enveloped Sung-tae and Garba, and they vanished.
"......"
A cool breeze soothed Leo's eyes, left alone. Wiping away the tears that hadn't dried, the boy turned toward the village.
I'll become someone who can be a pillar for others too.
"It's the hero! The hero's back!"
"He defeated the demon king and returned!"
The villagers who had been waiting at the edge of the village welcomed the boy with cheers. In their eyes, only the hero Leo existed—Sung-tae and Garba, who had vanished, were nowhere in their thoughts.
...No, I want to be a pillar for senior.
Leo revised his goal amid the cheers. The villagers' cheers were for the 'hero' imposed on him, not for him. The boy knew he was no longer a hero. The unprecedented power deep in his chest from his hero days was gone.
But something warmer and more comforting remained. A power like the person he admired, one he wanted to lean on forever.
"Hero, someone from the adventurer guild is looking for you."
"Who... is it?"
"This way."
The boy's eyes, now with a goal, shone firmly. Thinking of Sung-tae, he realized adults' words weren't always right.
Mom, not all men in the world are bad.
Leo's mother, who had become a hero and set off on adventures, gave him much advice. The most emphasized was not to trust men.
Senior didn't treat me like a kid. He even trained me.
All men are wolves, get tricked and you'll suffer forever—such nagging. But Sung-tae was different. A wonderful man he could lean on and entrust everything to. At least, that's what Leo thought.
I want to be someone worthy of standing by senior's side!
Leo was a nickname. The boy's full name was Elienor. A country girl disguised as a boy per her mother's advice—and the moment a hero got hooked by Sung-tae, just as her mother feared.
And...
"Are you that hero? The one who destroyed Black Oriharcon and defeated the demon king."
"Yes. But... I'm no longer a hero."
In the back yard of the adventurer guild, a white-haired old man with hair gone silver waited for the boy—no, the girl—carrying a massive slab of Black Oriharcon on his back. As huge as the old man's build, yet he carried it effortlessly, like a backpack.
At Leo's words, the old man smiled softly and set down the Black Oriharcon. Then, as his hand gripped it...
Black powder poured from the old man's hand like sand.
"!?"
"That doesn't matter. I've heard heroes sometimes lose their power after defeating a demon king. But don't worry."
It was the powder of Black Oriharcon.
"Even ordinary people can become as strong as a hero with effort. If you've lost your hero power, just train again from now on."
"Can... I get strong too?"
"Of course."
The old man extended his hand to Leo.
"Trust me, Roman, a special-rank adventurer."
After a brief hesitation, Leo took his hand. The old man's body flinched momentarily, but he soon spoke as if nothing happened.
"Shall we start training?"
＊＊＊
"Phew."
"My lord? You're back already?"
Gepelt asked upon seeing Sung-tae and Garba appear in his lab. Why return after less than a day? He hadn't even inscribed magic circles on the monsters yet. Had something happened?
"Investigation on hero power's done, so now we can start a real adventure. Not nearby—far away. That's why I came back."
Sung-tae stretched his stiff body. Aside from exorcising the spirit, they hadn't done much, so he wanted to move.
"Far away. How far?"
"Somewhere you couldn't walk back to here."
Nearby was out. His black armor and wolf beastkin companion were too recognizable; people might swarm him as part of the demon king-slaying hero party. He wanted uninterrupted, free adventures. And places with unique beauties from this isekai he hadn't seen.
That town was too ordinary. Fantasy feel, sure, but too plain.
Plus, he'd done everything there. Registering at the guild was a big win. Now for somewhere more special.
"How about the continent's center? Lots of humans, capital nearby with plenty to see. Can't teleport directly to the capital, but close by should work."
"I'd prefer exciting over crowded."
Sung-tae let Gepelt's advice go in one ear and out the other. He'd seen enough people this trip. He wanted fantasy-unique stuff, not humans.
"Exciting places, huh..."
In Sung-tae's vocabulary, the word 'exciting' was a thinly veiled code for the mysterious lands inhabited by various heterogeneous races—be it the hidden realms of the elves, the mountain strongholds of the dwarves, or even more exotic, unknown territories. However, with Garba watching his every move from right beside him, he couldn't exactly blurt out something as crude as 'send me straight to the territory of those hot elven babes!' Instead, he settled for giving a subtle, knowing wink as he added,
“You know exactly what I mean—those exotic lands inhabited by various heterogeneous races or, more importantly, those legendary territories where the beautiful elves reside.”
"Ah! That place."
Nice, Gepelt gets it quick.
Impressed, Sung-tae headed to the castle's armory while Gepelt adjusted coordinates. He knew it was here but rarely visited due to low interest in weapons. Dust thickly coated the door handle, untouched for ages.
"My lord, why the armory?"
"Thought a weapon might be nice."
Sung-tae recalled Leo's swordsmanship. It sliced Black Oriharcon; it could probably cut his armor too.
Better grab one, just in case.
Also, adventurers carried weapons; might look good.
"Lots of weapons."
"Yes. Ignis had his subordinates collect many fitting ones. He ended up making his own."
"Blacksmith suits him better."
Weapons and armor rusted away, covered in dust. Leather and cloth had rotted to scraps; most metal was unusable.
"This one's decent. What is it?"
Sung-tae eyed a gauntlet on the wall and slipped it on. Over his armored gauntlet, it fit huge, leaving space.
He punched the air like a jab. Ice crystals formed, shooting toward his fist's direction.
"Oh. Nice."
"Glaze's Fist."
"Glaze?"
"Yes. Once one of the Four Heavenly Kings, an ice spirit. Joined on Ignis's whim, but died."
"Why?"
"Whim. Days later, 'This is land of fire. No need for ice like you,' and killed him."
"...This his gauntlet?"
"No. They cut off his hand, hollowed it out. It's the hand itself."
Sung-tae quietly returned it.
Dead guy's relic was iffy, but he'd use it. But this was the guy himself!
Looking around, he ventured deeper.
"This?"
Sung-tae's eyes lit up. A wooden bow that should have rotted brimmed with life. Spiderweb-thin string taut with tension.
"Bow made from World Tree."
"World Tree?"
"Yes. Sacred tree from the now-destroyed high elf forest. Even branches planted elsewhere revive dead land."
"World Tree bow. What abilities?"
"Not much on weapons. Sorry."
Test it then. Observing, Sung-tae drew the string slightly.
"Oh."
Air vibrated just from drawing. Ambient mana gathered; he released unconsciously.
Boom!
Mana shot like an arrow, piercing the ceiling skyward. Blue sky visible through the hole.
Sung-tae gripped the World Tree bow, staring up in surprise.
Jackpot! Should've come sooner!
His fists were stronger, but manly dreams, right? It evoked childhood innocence with toy swords and guns.
Proudly slinging the bow, he turned.
And...
"What happened!?"
Gepelt, arriving late, sighed at the hole.
"My lord... you did it again..."
"Th-That..."
"Ten thousand wasn't enough, huh."
"Wasn't me!"
＊＊＊
"Thanks, Gepelt."
Less than a day later, at the newly adjusted teleport coordinates. Despite the praise from his revered lord, Gepelt looked unwell.
"Save the thanks. Just don't wreck the castle."
"Sorry, accident. But you set it like I asked, right?"
Sung-tae checked just in case. Gepelt smiled faintly.
"Of course. Set for an exciting place."
"Thanks! Let's go, Garba."
"Yes, my lord!"
Light from the magic circle enveloped them. In the now-empty lab, Gepelt muttered alone.
"As expected of my lord. How'd he know such a dangerous place... 'exciting' indeed."
There were precious few locations that seamlessly blended the presence of ethereal, beautiful elves with a diverse collection of various other heterogeneous races. When one factored in Gepelt’s unique and rather peculiar definition of what qualified as truly exciting, it left only one possible destination on the map.
Anyone survived entering there?
"My lord's 'exciting' is a warrior's. That death-ridden land fits."
Gepelt recalled Sung-tae from the armory, bow on back—from that land, made of its materials. Planning conquest?
How ruthless! That's my lord.
Such cruel acts, calling it exciting. Gepelt shook his head, preparing to enhance monsters.
"Warriors are unpredictable, huh."