Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Seeds of Discord
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"128."
"Did you hear?"
Clearly displeased by something, Seong Yu-ra furrowed his brow deeply as he asked Baek Si-woo.
"What about?"
"That D-grade uncle."
As soon as Seo Woo-jin's name came up, Baek Si-woo's expression hardened.
It was such a subtle change that even Seong Yu-ra wouldn't notice, but he was unmistakably conscious of Seo Woo-jin.
"...Why him?"
Baek Si-woo asked, pretending to have no particular interest.
"He went on vacation again, of all things."
Seong Yu-ra fanned himself with his hand, looking utterly incredulous as he continued.
"You think we don't take vacations because we don't want to play? Isn't that just too much? A guy his age."
-To grow strong enough to stop the Demon King.
That was Seong Yu-ra's greatest task on this world.
It wasn't out of a sense of duty.
What came after as rewards mattered more.
Wealth, fame, and power.
With those, he planned to return to Earth and live a life superior to others.
Yet here was Seo Woo-jin, constantly taking vacations and heading out, which grated on his nerves while he scrimped even on sleep to get stronger.
"He must have something to do."
Baek Si-woo gave a wry smile at his friend's attitude and shook his head.
"What does that guy even have to do here? Probably just going out to drink."
Seong Yu-ra's thinking wasn't entirely wrong.
What else would a hero do on vacation besides play around?
He didn't have friends outside the Academy, after all.
"Even so, it's not our business."
Baek Si-woo genuinely believed that.
Or rather, he tried to believe it.
Lately, just thinking of Seo Woo-jin made his chest tighten with irritation.
He'd been trying his best not to care, but today, Seong Yu-ra had ruined that.
"How can you not care? It keeps bothering me. Doesn't it get to you?"
Seong Yu-ra glanced at Baek Si-woo, probing.
"...What?"
"No, that uncle's gotten ridiculously strong lately. Even beat you in a fight, coincidence or not."
Baek Si-woo's eyebrow twitched.
He reflexively wanted to say he hadn't lost, but he couldn't.
'Because I did lose.'
He'd thought he was stronger for sure.
He knew Seo Woo-jin had skills beyond his rank and level, but still, he shouldn't lose.
He was SSS-grade 'Sword God,' after all.
Backed by the full support of the Empire.
Meanwhile, Seo Woo-jin was D-grade 'Sword Soldier' with backing from the tiny northern kingdom of Zion.
He was superior in every way.
So he'd had every reason to be confident.
'But I lost.'
He'd tried to accept it calmly.
Just that Seo Woo-jin had worked harder than him.
If he trained even harder now, he could win eventually.
But that didn't help at all.
His inferiority complex toward Seo Woo-jin only grew worse, now spiraling out of control.
"Hurting your pride?"
"Cut it out."
Baek Si-woo's tone had turned icy.
It was a side of him rarely seen.
But Seong Yu-ra only looked amused.
"It does bother you, huh. First time I've seen that look on you."
"What look..."
Mid-sentence, Baek Si-woo shut his mouth.
He could feel his own face stiffen rigidly.
"So even you have an inferiority complex?"
Was it mockery?
Or delight at seeing a new side of his friend?
Seong Yu-ra grinned widely.
"It's not like that."
"You sure? You really don't care at all? Your attitude's pretty weird for that."
He had no idea what was weird about it.
He'd been acting calm as always.
"Well, if I'm wrong, sorry."
Seong Yu-ra shrugged, but it was clear he didn't mean it.
"But if you really do feel inferior to that uncle... I'd be a bit disappointed."
Only then did Baek Si-woo realize why his friend kept bringing up Seo Woo-jin.
'He's sowing discord.'
Seong Yu-ra's intent was obvious.
Drive a wedge between him and the irritating Seo Woo-jin, make him deal with it somehow.
'A tactic he's used plenty before.'
Normally, he'd never fall for such a cheap trick.
He wasn't the type to go along with malicious schemes.
But now was different.
He could feel his discomfort with Seo Woo-jin turning to hostility.
All it took was a few provocations from Seong Yu-ra.
Baek Si-woo tried to steel himself against it, but the demonic energy dwelling within him wouldn't let go so easily.
"Prove it."
He didn't ask what.
Asking might pull him out of the mire for good.
But Seong Yu-ra pressed on regardless.
"That you're better than that uncle. You can do it, right? You're SSS-grade; you can't lose to some D-grade. Not even by chance."
He wanted to tell him to shut up with the nonsense.
Spend that time leveling up instead.
But what came out of Baek Si-woo's mouth was the exact opposite.
"I don't lose. If you want, I'll show you how strong I am."
Seong Yu-ra's smile deepened at those words.
An eerily grotesque smile.
* * *
"Th-this is first class?"
Rinar's eyes bulged as wide as they could go.
He could hardly believe he was heading to the capital—a dream he'd cherished even in sleep—and in first class, no less...
It was a miracle he hadn't fainted from shock.
"Quiet down."
Seo Woo-jin warned the boy and stepped inside.
"S-sorry."
Rinar mimed zipping his lips and followed Seo Woo-jin into the first-class cabin.
Plush sofas and opulent decor beyond imagination.
Even the Mohiaddin castle hadn't held such splendor.
As Rinar gawked at every corner, Seo Woo-jin realized something new.
'He can be noisy without even talking.'
If that was a talent, it was one.
His mind fraying, Seo Woo-jin sighed and called Rinar over, pointing to the sofa.
"Sit still until we arrive."
"Yes, sir!"
Like a docile lamb, he replied energetically and plopped onto the sofa.
'This is convenient.'
Seo Woo-jin chuckled inwardly at the obedient boy.
Getting permission for the kid's trip to the capital had been easier than expected.
Amir hadn't opposed it at all.
Why refuse when the hero who'd saved the city offered to take him and raise him?
'He'd planned to send him to the capital from the start, huh?'
Even saving money for it in secret.
Seo Woo-jin had laid down one condition to the thrilled Rinar.
Unquestioning obedience to orders.
Break it, and he'd be sent back immediately—that threat.
Naturally, the reckless boy had nodded, and now followed every word without a hint of rebellion.
'Heading back now.'
This outing had been full of blunders.
It had worked out in the end, but he couldn't just be happy.
'The Dark Duke's reaction was off.'
Not suspicion, exactly.
Too few clues to peg him as the 'Demon King.'
But he'd sensed something was being hidden.
Come to think of it, three beings now harbored doubts about Seo Woo-jin.
Sword Sage Dariel.
When they first met Gerald, he'd tested him directly with blades, noting his immunity to demonic energy.
Grand Duke Briana.
This one was more serious.
She knew demonic energy lurked within him.
Fortunately, she'd kept it quiet...
Still, an unstable element.
And finally, Dark Duke Strain.
'Three of the Empire's Five Guardians.'
He'd shown suspicious signs while struggling to survive; it was unavoidable.
'Need to be more careful from now on.'
Really, truly, absolutely!
No more stepping out until the Academy term ended.
He vowed it again.
Whether he'd keep it was another matter.
"Um, Hero sir."
Rinar's tentative call made him open his closed eyes.
"What is it?"
"Well..."
Rinar hesitated, then asked firmly, as if steeling himself.
"If I go to the Academy, can I become a strong hero like you?"
His eyes sparkled.
'Hmm...'
Rinar believed he could enroll and become a hero.
Just like the man they'd met on the road had said—no matter how impossible, he clung to that dream.
'I should clear up the misunderstanding.'
What to say?
Seo Woo-jin rubbed his temple.
No point in a lie that'd unravel fast; he had to be honest...
'He'll be crushed.'
Only twelve years old, but it was his lifelong dream.
How disappointed would he be learning it was all illusion?
Seo Woo-jin pondered.
How to soften the blow?
But no matter how he racked his brain, nothing came.
So he did it.
"No. You can't become a hero."
He threw a straight fastball of truth.
"...Huh?"
Rinar tilted his head, face blank as if he hadn't comprehended.
"You can't become a hero like you think. Even enrolling in the Academy isn't something you can just wish for."
Only then did Rinar's expression change.
Like the sky had fallen.
The boy's face crumbled.
"Th-then..."
Seeing tears well up, Seo Woo-jin clicked his tongue inwardly.
Should've explained sooner, but trying for gentle words had led here.
He sighed.
"I'm not from this world. Neither are the other heroes. We're just summoned here to save this world from the Demon King."
That's what heroes were.
Seo Woo-jin explained step by step.
It was all he could do.
But Rinar was still young.
It'd take time for a boy whose dream had shattered to accept it.
"...So I can never be a hero?"
Tears streamed down, tugging at Seo Woo-jin's heart.
"Yeah. You can't be a hero."
But he said it firmly.
"Then going to the capital..."
Nothing he could do.
Couldn't enter the Academy, couldn't become a hero.
In the capital, he'd have nothing.
"But."
Then Seo Woo-jin met the young boy's eyes squarely.
"You can become a hero."
Not a summoned hero, but a true hero.
Seo Woo-jin decided to plant a new dream in the boy.