Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: The Healer's Refusal
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“Could you please heal him?”
Ban Slaine made the request politely.
But the response was not just cold—it was icy.
“Why should I?”
It was Sung Yu-ra.
As befitting her “Saintess” class, her healing skills produced effects bordering on the miraculous.
That was why Ban Slaine was asking her to treat Seo Woo-jin.
And, predictably, Sung Yu-ra was refusing.
“He’s already fully recovered anyway. I don’t get what you’re asking for.”
Sung Yu-ra scoffed, dismissing Ban Slaine’s words.
Seo Woo-jin was currently in perfect condition.
He had leveled up when Reina died.
Even so, Ban Slaine had made the request out of faint hope for Seo Woo-jin, who still hadn’t regained consciousness.
“Anyway, I have zero interest in healing that old man, so handle it yourselves.”
With a final sniff, she turned and walked away.
“Heh heh.”
Ban Slaine let out a hollow laugh at the unexpected turn.
They were Heroes who should fight together to stop the Demon King.
He couldn’t fathom such behavior from a comrade.
“I’m sorry.”
Kim Tae-jin could only sweat profusely and apologize on her behalf.
Having witnessed Ban Slaine’s power firsthand, he had no choice but to tread carefully.
The man was overwhelmingly strong.
It was unlikely, but if he took offense and swung that sword, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
At least not now.
“It’s not for you to apologize.”
Ban Slaine shook his head, waving off Kim Tae-jin’s apology.
The one who truly owed an apology was Sung Yu-ra.
Not that she seemed inclined to give one.
Ban Slaine gave Kim Tae-jin a wry smile.
“Does this girl have a bad reputation or something?”
Otherwise, why would a comrade refuse to heal him?
When Ban Slaine asked with evident concern, Kim Tae-jin looked troubled.
“Well...”
Honestly, Seo Woo-jin’s reputation wasn’t bad.
If anything, it was good.
He consistently ranked high in Academy training, and he was popular.
No way his reputation was poor.
Sure, there were a few jealous types, but they were negligible.
Sung Yu-ra was different.
For some reason, she didn’t like Seo Woo-jin much, and lately, she’d been treating him like an enemy.
Kim Tae-jin had stayed quiet because of Seo Woo-jin’s ties to Baek Si-woo, but even he thought her attitude was over the top.
He couldn’t very well tell this to Ban Slaine, whom he was meeting for the first time.
Kim Tae-jin mumbled evasively, his face saying it was a tough question.
“Tsk, there must be circumstances.”
Fortunately, Ban Slaine didn’t press further.
“Still, things have gone awry. This is a problem.”
Ban Slaine was well aware of the mission Seo Woo-jin had been assigned.
To take Baek Si-woo’s head.
Reina would hold them off while Seo Woo-jin completed it.
It had been delayed by unforeseen issues, but he hadn’t been too worried.
Killing one Hero consumed by demonic energy wasn’t a big deal for him.
Yet an unexpected enemy had appeared, dooming it to failure.
“The Lion...”
Among the Demon King’s followers, the thirteen Apostles were the strongest.
Lurking behind them, wielding vast influence without revealing themselves—that was the Lion.
For Ban Slaine, who had only ever guarded Massive Guardian, it was a monster known only by rumor.
Its appearance in imperial territory was no small matter.
‘Does that mean the boy is that important?’
A Hero who might be the Demon King.
Ban Slaine privately thought it was a misjudgment.
But the Empire wouldn’t dismiss even the tiniest possibility.
That was why they’d summoned him to eliminate Baek Si-woo—and it had failed.
All because of the Lion’s intervention.
Slaughtering Reina, one of the Apostles, was praiseworthy, but it didn’t bring pure joy.
“Well, what can you do? It’s already done.”
No dwelling on the past.
What mattered now was Seo Woo-jin waking up safely.
“Um...”
Then Kim Tae-jin cautiously addressed Ban Slaine.
“Yes? Something on your mind?”
“Could you tell me who you are, by chance?”
He finally voiced the question.
A silver-haired young man.
Speech that didn’t match his looks.
Strength beyond comprehension.
Kim Tae-jin couldn’t help but wonder about Ban Slaine’s identity.
“Heh heh, I forgot again.”
He smacked his forehead.
It had been the same when he first met Seo Woo-jin.
He’d gotten dragged into needless trouble for not introducing himself.
“Getting old, always forgetting. My apologies.”
Ban Slaine apologized to Kim Tae-jin, then spoke formally.
“I am Ban Slaine, lord of Massive Guardian and shield of Sion.”
“Ah...”
No recognition.
“I-I see. Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Tae-jin.”
Realizing his blunder too late, he quickly pivoted.
Ban Slaine didn’t mind.
Even on the continent, few knew his name.
He’d always holed up in Massive Guardian, focused solely on blocking monsters, so his fame hadn’t spread.
“It’s fine. It’d be stranger if you did know.”
Kim Tae-jin, looking apologetic as he scratched his head, asked one more thing.
“Then what’s your relationship to Seo Woo-jin? You two seem close.”
Rushing to his side upon arrival, bowing his head to Sung Yu-ra for healing—it didn’t seem ordinary.
“This child?”
A smile spread across Ban Slaine’s face.
An endlessly kind, warm smile.
“He’s my disciple.”
* * *
[Prove it.]
A thunderous voice slammed into his ears.
So loud it nearly deafened him.
‘Fuck, prove what?’
Shouldn’t it at least tell him what before demanding it?
How was he supposed to know what to do when it just barked “prove it” out of nowhere!
But the voice showed no consideration for Seo Woo-jin.
[Prove your existence.]
‘Yeah, no thanks. You go ahead and enjoy that proving shit.’
His ears rang, triggering a headache.
Seo Woo-jin grimaced and plugged his ears.
‘Damn, where the hell am I?’
Not shrouded in darkness, so it wasn’t the leveling-up space.
‘A dream?’
The aftermath of “Celestial Wing” had knocked him out.
So this was likely a dream.
‘How’d it go?’
With his ears covered, his mind cleared a bit, and worry set in.
Ban Slaine had appeared right before he passed out, so nothing major should’ve happened.
The man was truly strong.
The issue was Baek Si-woo.
Had they caught him?
If it had just been Reina, no question.
No matter how strong Baek Si-woo was, he couldn’t match Ban Slaine.
Even empowered by demonic energy, he was no match.
But the new enemy nagged at him.
The one with the ashen winds.
He’d blacked out immediately, so he didn’t know its full power, but it seemed at least Reina’s level.
‘They didn’t let him slip, did they?’
It was a favor in exchange for “Ka Raniell.”
Failure might mean losing that divine sword.
‘No way they’d take it back after giving it? He’s the emperor; he wouldn’t stoop that low, right?’
He had to trust the emperor’s magnanimity.
Believe he wouldn’t give and then reclaim...
[Prove it.]
“Argh, shut the fuck up!”
It kept coming.
Beyond noisy—it was stressful.
“Just shut up and let me wake up already...”
Seo Woo-jin snapped, yelling into the void.
[O Demon King of another world.]
The words changed.
“Huh?”
Seo Woo-jin blinked, mid-shout.
His ears no longer hurt.
A perfectly calm, weighty voice.
Unknowable whose it was, it continued.
[Only the final proof remains.]
“...Final?”
Seo Woo-jin asked, but naturally, it didn’t answer.
It just said what it wanted.
[The time of choice will come.]
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? Explain properly.”
[Depending on your decision, the halted carriage will turn its wheels once more. Ponder it, and ponder again.]
Incomprehensible words.
“Must be the dream.”
The rambling voice furrowed his brow.
At the same time, the world began to crumble.
Not a metaphor—it really crumbled.
The sky shattered, cracks split the ground.
“...What a spectacular dream.”
As Seo Woo-jin chuckled dryly, the voice spoke its final words.
[You will know when that day comes.]
“Gasp!”
His eyes snapped open.
The first thing he saw was Ailin.
A familiar scene.
One he’d repeated several times lately.
“...Again?”
Passing out in battle, waking to Ailin nursing him.
“You’re awake.”
Seo Woo-jin nodded and sat up.
“No pain?”
“I heard you leveled up.”
“Oh, did I?”
Probably from Reina’s death.
Otherwise, no reason for the level gain.
Seo Woo-jin sighed.
‘Wanted to kill her myself.’
In the end, he’d needed Ban Slaine’s help.
Regrettable, but unavoidable.
Without him, he’d have died there.
“I’m sorry.”
Suddenly, Ailin bowed her head in apology.
“For what?”
Seo Woo-jin tilted his head.
He couldn’t fathom why.
“I was too late. Lord Ronain and the White Knights joined us, and we hurried as fast as we could, but...”
The situation was already over.
She couldn’t face him.
She’d begged to accompany him to help, yet contributed nothing.
“No need to apologize for that.”
Seo Woo-jin brushed it off.
Her delay meant nothing.
If anything, he was glad she was late.
She was unharmed.
That was enough.
Seo Woo-jin smiled and got out of bed.
“Don’t feel guilty. Tell me what happened after I blacked out.”
Was Reina really dead?
What about the monster called the Lion?
And Baek Si-woo...
“We lost him.”
Seo Woo-jin closed his eyes at Ailin’s words.
Mission failed, effectively.
“But it’s not a total loss.”
Ailin spoke to Seo Woo-jin, who wore a bitter smile.
“What do you mean?”
When he asked, Ailin smiled back.
“The lord found their hideout.”