Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: A Smooth Subjugation
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#19
"Drive them west!"
"Shields!"
The soldiers' desperate shouts shook the battlefield.
"Kill them! Don't let a single one escape!"
"If even one gets away, you'll take its place!"
The centurions whipped the soldiers on, fueling their fighting spirit even more.
"It's going smoothly."
Testron spoke from behind Ban Slaine, who was watching the scene.
"I see."
Even in this dangerous northern frontier, they were holding back the particularly troublesome Eras herd well.
"No major casualties so far."
"The soldiers are fighting hard."
Ever since that incident, the soldiers had been battling the monsters with a vengeance.
Thanks to that, the subjugation was yielding impressive results.
"At this rate, we should wrap it up and head back in just a few days."
Last year, it would have taken several more weeks.
But this year, with the soldiers giving their all, they were achieving their goals far ahead of schedule.
"...That one's growing steadily too."
Testron was of course referring to Seo Woojin.
"What's his level now?"
"9. He should hit 10 soon."
"Fast."
"It's unbelievable for a D-grade. Of course, he's putting in the effort."
It had been less than a month since the subjugation began.
Yet he was already on the cusp of level 10.
The three levels from the ice worm played a big part, but even without that, it was astonishing growth.
"He's not riding the bus like other heroes, but he's keeping pace with higher grades."
Seo Woojin was leveling up purely on his own merits.
No help from Ailin like before—just solo.
"I kept Ailin with him out of concern, but..."
It turned out to be unnecessary.
Once he hit level 5 and got his skills, Seo Woojin was no longer the same.
He threw himself into life-or-death battles every day, hunting like a madman who didn't care if he died.
He'd been in real danger a few times, but leveled up through each crisis.
"He's at upper knight level now."
He'd surpassed lower knight Ailin long ago.
By level 5, he was already her equal.
Now at level 9, he could stand with upper knights.
"Oh? Already?"
Ban Slaine's eyes widened slightly.
"Of course, he still can't match me."
Not yet.
But at level 10, with a class assigned?
He might truly surpass him then.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Ban Slaine's voice held a hint of excitement.
Not just because Seo Woojin was growing fast.
"D-grade 'Sword Soldier' aptitude, so he'll get that class, right?"
"Barring any surprises, yes."
"Good, good."
'Sword Soldier' was low-grade, but specialized in swords as the name implied.
Once classed, his sword comprehension would rise, even if slightly.
Ban Slaine planned to train him personally then.
"A hero's abilities plus my swordsmanship—should be quite the sight."
What he'd told Seo Woojin on the hill.
"I'll make you the strongest hero out of a hundred."
No joke.
"Level up soon."
Heroes grew stronger the more you pushed them.
Ban Slaine wanted to show him firsthand.
* * *
"Sudden chill."
Seo Woojin shivered.
Even with level gains resisting the cold, a sudden chill hit him.
He tilted his head while thrusting his sword through a fleeing Eras's skull.
'Just my imagination?'
He pulled the thick black sword from the Eras's skull, brushing it off.
"You're getting used to that sword too."
"Oh, Ailin."
Seo Woojin nodded to Ailin, who had approached.
"It's not as heavy anymore."
The black sword, a congratulatory gift from Ban Slaine, was heavier than expected.
He thought level 5 would suffice, but only at 7 could he wield it in battle.
"You're much stronger now."
Ailin stared at him with deep, sunken eyes.
No trace of jealousy like before.
Not just hiding it—she truly didn't feel it.
"...Still a long way."
Seo Woojin scratched his cheek, averting his gaze.
'Yeah, still far.'
Too weak to repay his life debt yet.
"True. The empire's hero is nearly level 20 already."
SSS-grade hero.
With 'Sword God' aptitude, he'd gained the matching class.
Backed by the empire's endless support, he was growing insanely fast.
Compared to that, Seo Woojin's pace was like a sluggish caterpillar.
'But I don't think I'll lose.'
Rumors about the 'Sword God' abounded.
Aura at level 10, body reconstruction at 15.
All absurd tales.
Yet no one in Zion dismissed them as exaggeration.
"You manifested aura at level 7, right?"
Once he could wield the black sword freely, Seo Woojin drew aura effortlessly.
The shock rippled through the entire subjugation force.
Even Ban Slaine was stunned, hardly believing his eyes.
Having seen it themselves, no reason to doubt the rumors.
"So what? I still can't beat Testron."
Testron hadn't manifested aura yet.
If he had, he wouldn't be stuck at upper knight.
Yet Seo Woojin couldn't beat him.
"Ability and strength are different."
So what if he spammed aura and skills?
He couldn't land a single hit.
Testron's strength wasn't defined by raw stats.
"Sir Testron has fought more battles than you can imagine."
During the subjugation, Seo Woojin had fought plenty.
But compared to Testron's yearly frontline grind? Mere scratches.
"That's why he insists on real combat growth, not the bus."
He already knew.
"If you'd taken the bus... I probably couldn't beat you."
Levels would have risen much faster.
Close to the empire's Sword God, even.
But then what?
He'd get crushed by a lower knight like Ailin.
A big, overgrown kid.
That's how knights saw bus-riding heroes.
"With your current strength, you could beat that Sword God."
"...You think?"
"The lord said so. It's certain."
If Ban Slaine said it, he believed.
"That'd be nice. Anyway, no level up today either."
A week since level 9, still no up.
Subjugation was record-fast, but solo hunting slowed it relatively.
"Snowls barely give EXP now."
The rush from kills was gone.
Even dangerous Eras gave little, slowing progress.
"Need a different approach."
He recalled Ban Slaine killing the ice worm.
One gave more EXP than 100 Snowls.
Feasible or not aside.
Hunt higher-tier monsters for fast growth.
"Don't worry."
"Some trick like... Black Flame?"
Mid-sentence, Seo Woojin incinerated a fleeing Eras with black flames.
"Tomorrow we enter Drakeas territory."
"...Drakeas?"
Ancient dragonkin Drakeas.
First encounter: death incarnate.
But now?
'A bit of help, and I can hunt it.'
Seo Woojin judged.
Powerful ruler-tier, but his growth was immense too.
"Won't it be dangerous?"
But he voiced concern.
Hunting possible didn't mean no damage.
He worried for the soldiers, not himself.
"They're seasoned here."
Most had more experience than Ailin.
First day caught them off-guard, some losses.
Prepared? Different story.
"Good then."
During subjugation, Seo Woojin and Ailin moved like madmen.
To minimize soldier casualties.
One more swing could save a life.
Casualties dropped sharply.
"Eras subjugation done."
Battle from dawn to dusk.
Huge numbers, herding them—no escapes—took time.
But all eliminated.
"Another day done."
Seo Woojin sheathed his black sword.
An especially long day.
Nonstop fighting dawn to dusk.
"Rest for tomorrow."
Tomorrow: Drakeas subjugation.
First time: trembling in terror.
'Now it's different.'
Not just levels.
Mindset.
From subjugation start to now, that changed most.
Monsters' killing intent couldn't faze him—not with lives on his shoulders.
"Clean the field, then we rest."
"Right. Tomorrow's the last day of subjugation."
Ailin's words surprised Seo Woojin.
"Last day tomorrow?"
"Yes. Ended much faster than planned."
"...I see."
Seo Woojin's face darkened.
He should be leaping for joy, but couldn't.
Families of the dead soldiers came to mind.
"Woojin."
Ailin called.
Then firmly continued.
"Think about that later. Rest now. Focus on tomorrow's Drakeas."
Seo Woojin nodded.
"Got it."
Time to focus on subjugation.