Chapter 24
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 024
Chapter Title: Yurgis.
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While heading back after the sparring match, Woojin felt an odd itch on the back of his hand for some reason. He stopped in his tracks and examined it.
The ragged edges of the torn wound were knitting together.
"...My regeneration speed seems faster?"
Woojin felt puzzled.
The wound appeared to be healing faster than usual. He'd eaten several beast cores, which had bolstered his healing ability, but even accounting for that, this was too quick.
Why the change? As he mentally reviewed recent events, Woojin recalled the Abomination core he'd recently consumed.
"Did I inherit some of the Abomination's regeneration ability?"
It was hard to be sure.
Woojin hadn't spilled blood in months. It had been so long since his last injury that pinpointing when this ability emerged was impossible.
Either way, it was good news.
Woojin resumed walking toward the inn, replaying his spar with the man who'd inflicted this wound—Bow.
Honestly, he'd approached the match lightly, but techniques utilizing mana had proven trickier than he'd anticipated.
"Pounding them with sheer force is the only method I can think of."
But that wasn't viable in a spar. One misstep could injure the opponent. Just moments ago, he'd nearly slammed Elder Bow into a wall and panicked inwardly.
Put another way, it posed no issue in a life-or-death fight...
Still, he needed at least one technique to subdue foes without harming them. With that in mind, Woojin reviewed his current skills as he walked.
Whoosh.
A small flame flickered to life in Woojin's palm. It was a spell Claire had taught him.
Shaa—
The flame in his palm suddenly turned into a chill frost. Another spell from Claire.
Crackle!
For a split second, red lightning flashed.
This wasn't magic. It was a residual ability inherited from a beast core after slaying it. The noise was too loud, so Woojin quickly extinguished the lightning.
"On second thought, I can't use this for subduing."
It was too dangerous, and using a Karma-derived power in public felt risky. If the Church Alliance took notice, it could lead to trouble.
"Should I learn some Mana Arts?"
Easier said than done.
Learning them would be tough, and finding a teacher even tougher. Few would readily share hard-earned techniques.
As that thought crossed his mind, Woojin suddenly remembered Bow. Joining the Church Alliance might let him learn Mana Arts from someone like him.
But recalling Bow's words...
Purifying Demonic Realm-corrupted land to reclaim humanity's homeland. That meant the Church Alliance planned to dispatch an expedition beyond the walls soon...
"...That's basically enlistment."
Coming this far just to do military service again? Talk of humanity's homeland and duty fell flat on Woojin. He wasn't from this world to begin with.
Still, life was unpredictable, so he'd keep the recommendation badge as insurance.
"I'll think it over slowly."
Woojin strolled along leisurely.
Things progressed more smoothly than expected afterward.
Despite the deaths of Golden Beetle's two sons, the Church Alliance didn't reprimand them and urged the mercenaries to continue the commission.
It was a welcome yet puzzling turn.
The mercenary leaders had braced for contract termination. A client's mid-job death was a major incident.
Woojin had a rough guess why.
"The Church Alliance must be swamped preparing the expedition."
With a grand goal ahead, they lacked time for minor mishaps.
Replacing three mercenary groups on short notice was tough, so they attached a few Holy Knights as overseers and pushed to complete the job.
Whatever the internal politics, as long as they got paid, it didn't matter. Woojin escorted the cargo with the mercenaries, heading diligently southward.
And at some point...
A clear blue sky stretched overhead. No trace of the Demonic Realm's dark clouds—just pure azure. Soon after marveling at it, a massive wall came into view far ahead.
It dominated the entire horizon. The structure commonly called the Alliance Wall. Woojin marveled repeatedly at its grandeur.
"Is this what the Great Wall feels like?"
The wall's height was absurdly immense. He wondered how they'd even built it.
Of course, erecting such a barrier across an entire border was no small feat. The continent's narrowest point allowed it—akin to Panama between North and South America on Earth.
The Tarasques soon halted before the gates. Laborers unloaded the cargo and carefully transferred it to waiting carriages.
They also checked for shortages from transit, so it took quite a while before finishing.
This marked the end of the mercenaries' commission. Jonathan returned, grinning as he hoisted a pouch of gold coins overhead.
"You lot, come get your pay! Whew, nearly threw my back out messing around."
"Hahaha!"
Jonathan clutched his back, feigning agony at the pouch's weight. The mercenaries roared with laughter.
They lined up for their shares. Woojin received eight gold coins.
"Not bad at all."
Divided by headcount, it wasn't extravagant, but ample for the work. Claire, clutching her gold, approached with a beaming smile.
"Jin! Dinner's on me tonight."
"Works for me."
As he chatted with Claire and moved to enter the wall with the group...
"Grrr."
Rex halted, staring intently. The red wolf's gaze held a meaning Woojin intuitively grasped.
Claire voiced her confusion.
"Uh... why's Rex acting like that?"
"You guys go ahead. I'll take a quick walk."
After sending the group off, Woojin walked with the red wolf into the deep forest, away from the gate guards' eyes...
"...You're leaving now, huh?"
Woojin asked suddenly. Rex nodded once in response.
It wasn't surprising. Just as people head to big cities, beasts yearned for the Demonic Realm. He had no intention of entering the wall.
"Slip away where no one will see. This area's gonna get dangerous once the expedition starts."
Farewell.
As Woojin bid goodbye, Rex bolted into the deep woods like the wind. The red wolf vanished in an instant. Midway, he glanced back with a glare.
Thud thud.
Rex prodded a thick tree with his tentacles, then raked it hard, leaving long claw marks. An incomprehensible act.
Puzzled, Woojin started to ask, but the red wolf had already melted into the shadows.
"Something on that tree?"
He approached to check. Circling it yielded nothing notable—just the claw marks.
Even at parting, the guy was unpredictable. With that thought, Woojin headed back to the wall.
Claire waited at the entrance, scanning him and his surroundings.
"...Did Rex leave okay?"
"Yeah. You kinda expected it?"
"He's a wolf, not a dog... I didn't think he'd go so soon, though."
Seeming wistful about Rex's departure, Claire scanned the Demonic Realm. Nothing visible. Disappointed but forcing cheer,
"We'll cross paths again sometime."
"Probably."
Chatting, they entered the wall. What greeted them was a metropolis rivaling its scale.
Wall City, Yurgis.
Yurgis was the name of a hero symbolizing the Church Alliance. The author of the Demonic Realm Chronicles Woojin had read. The city honored his achievements and sacrifice.
Towering cathedrals caught the eye first. Affiliated churches, worshiping different gods, vied in ego with ever-grander edifices.
"Even if the world's ending, they gotta build cathedrals big, huh."
Frankly, such massive structures seemed wasteful... but they looked impressive. More sights than expected made it feel like a vacation.
Claire tilted her head at his words.
"Wasn't that your goal coming here? Live leisurely in a safe city."
"True, but now that I'm here, I wonder if this is okay."
"Why not? Waste not to enjoy it now."
Like a tour guide, Claire pointed out landmarks. Woojin listened attentively as they walked.
Yurgis offered plenty due to its size: entertainment, food, and Woojin's pockets brimmed with gold.
Wasn't this safe, bountiful city reward for his labors?
...That notion lasted exactly two weeks.
Familiarity dulled even the most stunning vistas.
"Nothing to do."
Lying in bed, Woojin stared blankly at the ceiling. Sightseeing lost its thrill after a couple days.
No tasks meant no reason to rise... but idling didn't suit him. He got up soon enough.
Descending the stairs from his room, he spotted Claire reading on the inn's first floor.
"Jin. Slept in today, huh."
"Anything fun going on?"
"How about magic study?"
Predictably unappealing. Woojin eyed her anew with curiosity. Didn't studying ever bore her?
Suddenly intrigued,
"Why study so diligently?"
"Well... couldn't join a magic tower, so I have to work harder than others. Even then, I'll probably fall behind eventually."
Magic towers tightly controlled mid- and high-tier spell tomes, leaving outsiders scant chance at 4th Circle or above.
Claire had turned mercenary for tower fees. By chance, she acquired an old grimoire and studied its spells in spare time.
"Where'd you find that spellbook?"
"A used bookstore. Lucky find. I scoured everywhere for one—even magic tower dumpsters. Those were tough days... glad I found this."
Claire spoke matter-of-factly.
Less luck, more dogged pursuit. She'd checked every likely spot for magic books.
Perhaps that's why she taught Woojin magic so freely—having endured such hardship first.
As he pondered...
"...Hey, Jin."
A voice both familiar and strange. Woojin turned. His lips curled into a grin.
He'd met a welcome guest.
"Well, what brings you here?"
"Gotta have a drink on my so-called disciple's tab. You've been name-dropping me plenty."
Grinning, Hunter Hector replied.