Chapter 237
Chapter 237
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 237
Chapter Title: The Battle's End
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The battle was over.
There were 15 seriously injured, 52 lightly injured, and zero fatalities.
None of the heroes who participated in the battle had fallen, but nearly all of them except for a very few had sustained injuries.
Among them, the 15 serious cases were so grave that any ordinary person would have died.
If their levels hadn't risen midway and restored them multiple times, they surely would have perished.
On the other hand, not a single Ancient Orc survived.
Before Seo Woo-jin's overwhelming power, they had literally been reduced to dust and vanished.
In terms of battle results, it was a crushing victory.
But the heroes' mood wasn't great.
Part of it was that they were speechless after witnessing Seo Woo-jin's strength firsthand, but there was a bigger reason.
"The knights' losses are too severe."
Kye Soo-ji spoke up with a dark expression.
After the battle ended, she had managed to recover somewhat using Park Min-seong's 'Status Recovery Potion.'
Of course, Park Min-seong's level was too low for a full recovery, but at least she could move around now.
"Out of 300, only...."
"Fourteen left."
Including the top-class knight Ludein, the fact that only that many had survived weighed heavily on the heroes' hearts.
They knew full well why the knights had charged at the forefront.
"They could've just stayed back."
Someone said that.
That they didn't really need the knights' help.
That they could've held out until Seo Woo-jin arrived on their own.
But no one agreed with those words.
Given the number of Ancient Orcs, they needed every hand they could get, even an ant's.
If the knights hadn't helped, the casualties would have been far greater than now.
Some of the heroes might even have died.
Amid all that, no one felt anything but gratitude toward the knights who had risked their lives to assist.
"The injured ones are a problem too. If we leave them like this, it'll be trouble."
Goo Dong-hwan wore a serious expression as well.
He had swept across the battlefield more zealously than anyone, so he was in pretty bad shape himself.
Not life-threatening, but his body was covered in wounds to the point of looking hideous.
"For now, our only option is to ask Derhan for help."
Returning to the Empire in this state was impossible.
It was better to seek aid from the Derhan Kingdom and recover there.
Everyone nodded at Kye Soo-ji's words.
Seo Woo-jin agreed as well.
He had his own reasons for not returning to the Empire just yet.
'Aier is coming back, huh?'
It was something he'd heard from Benoar.
Aier had decided on reinforcements, absorbing even the retreating forces, and was heading back to the Empire.
A chilling glint flashed in Seo Woo-jin's eyes.
'Ignoring my warning?'
It wouldn't be that knight's will from the other day.
Having faced Seo Woo-jin in Demon King Transformation up close, there was no way he'd changed his mind.
Plus, hadn't he planted suspicions about Aier's leadership?
So this was likely someone else's doing.
'Whoever it is, none of my business.'
What mattered was that they were ignoring his warning and coming back.
'What to do?'
His deal with the emperor was done.
He'd blocked them once, so no need for him to step in again.
'No, that's not right.'
There was reason to block them.
First, to punish those who ignored his warning, and second, to prevent the war.
'Can't lose people we'll need to fight the Descent War in pointless battles.'
Seo Woo-jin recalled part of his conversation with Benoar.
'That Holy King guy is one of the Apostles....'
He'd half-expected it, but now it was confirmed.
To stop the Holy Knights and soldiers blindly loyal to the Main God and Holy King, he needed to deal with that one first.
Slaughtering 130,000 troops wasn't feasible.
"Uncle? What're you thinking so hard about?"
Then, Lee Ji-ah, who was beside him, called out to Seo Woo-jin.
"Oh, nothing much."
Seo Woo-jin gave a slight smile in response.
"What do you think, Uncle? Better to head to Derhan's capital, right? Instead of the Empire?"
While Seo Woo-jin had been lost in thought, they must have kept discussing it.
"I think that's best too. Plenty of people can't handle a long trip."
That included Kye Soo-ji and Kim Da-hye.
Especially Kim Da-hye, whose condition was a bit rough.
To save the knights, she'd squeezed out more mana than her limits, suffering severe mana exhaustion.
She'd collapsed right after the battle and still hadn't woken.
She was burning with fever and delirious enough to babble nonsense.
Taking her to the Empire like that was out of the question.
"Great! Then let's request help from Derhan!"
Lee Ji-ah declared it with a firm thud-thud on the ground.
Everyone smiled at the sight.
* * *
'The rumors were true.'
Aeron, following Oien's orders, was hiding in the dark shadows of an alley, surveying the surroundings.
It wasn't the usual vibrant, peaceful Holy Order.
People's faces were grim, and a somber atmosphere hung over the entire city.
It was due to the ongoing conscription.
"How many times is this now?"
"Why the draft this time?"
"They say Reninstan, Trien, and Brobison have declared war on us."
Shock spread across the faces of the men talking.
"N-No way! Why?"
"Why do you think? We sent troops to war with the Empire in this day and age."
"Even so...."
"I just can't understand His Holiness the Holy King. What is he thinking, starting a war with the Empire?"
Even objectively comparing forces, Aier and the Empire were worlds apart.
In a head-on clash, Aier would be wiped out without a trace.
They were rivals once, but that's ancient history.
The current Empire boasted unprecedented strength.
Having mobilized everything to prepare for the Demon King's Descent, it was only natural.
People couldn't comprehend the Holy King waging war against such an Empire.
"The Empire's one thing, but the immediate threats are the neighboring countries."
The massive Empire didn't move easily, fitting its size.
But the neighboring three nations were different.
Similar national power, sharing borders—they could invade anytime.
Plus, having already mobilized twice, Aier had no margin for error.
If war actually broke out with them in this state, the outcome was predetermined.
"Hmph! Those fools. With the Main God's blessing, they won't dare invade."
Of course, plenty supported the Holy King.
Bound by faith, they were zealots who would gladly die at his command.
'This isn't good.'
Watching it all from hiding, Aeron realized things were going south fast.
'No way His Holiness the Holy King really....'
Oien's words came to mind.
That the Holy King might be connected to the Demon King's followers.
He hadn't believed it then, but now he was starting to suspect.
Otherwise, Aier wouldn't have changed so drastically.
'I need to confirm.'
Circumstances alone weren't enough for certainty.
Aeron resolved to see the Holy King himself.
Staying hidden, he slipped toward the Holy Order's center without being spotted.
Possible because he was a high-ranking Holy Knight.
He knew all the patrol routes and guard positions.
Fortunately, they were the same as before deployment, so he entered undetected.
'This time....'
Aeron gauged the hour, thinking where the Holy King would be.
'The prayer room?'
The Holy King prayed three times a day.
In the prayer room deep within the Holy Order, to the Main God.
It was right about then.
Aeron headed there without hesitation.
'Something's off.'
No Holy Knights in sight.
Unlike the outer areas guarded by soldiers, the inner sanctum was manned solely by Holy Knights.
Yet not one was there.
Even with many drafted for war, having zero guards was suspicious.
'Something's up.'
Aeron's instincts screamed trouble.
But he couldn't turn back now.
If the Holy King was truly suspicious as Oien said, he had to see for himself.
Aeron crept silently toward the prayer room.
'He's inside.'
He sensed presence.
But....
'Not just one.'
This prayer room was for the Holy King alone.
Yet the sounds weren't prayers, but conversation.
Aeron pressed his ear cautiously to the door.
"No hitches in the plan?"
"'Black Being's' emergence and Jenonia's disappearance aside, everything's on track."
"This mustn't fail."
"You're quite the worrier."
Definitely two voices.
'Who?'
The responder was the Holy King's voice.
But the questioner was unfamiliar.
"Aier will perish. Not a single false god's servant will survive, and the world's power will weaken greatly."
Aeron's eyes widened at the Holy King's words.
'It was true!'
That one line confirmed Oien's claim.
The moment 'false god' left the Holy King's mouth, his allegiance to the Demon King was exposed.
'I have to go back and expose this!'
If the bastard Holy King's words were true, this war had to be stopped at all costs.
But the next voice halted him.
"What about the heroes? I hear Ardetain and Benoar failed too."
"That Seo Woo-jin interfered again."
"...Is he really that strong? Enough to take down Ardetain and Jenonia?"
"His growth is too fast. Only possible because he's the 'King of Chaos' in hero's guise."
Aeron recoiled at 'King of Chaos.'
From long ago.
He'd heard the legend.
"But no need to worry. He'll end up on our side anyway."
Having heard that much, Aeron turned and slipped away from the prayer room.
'I have to tell them!'
Aeron fled the Holy Order and raced toward Oien in Derhan.
Unaware that the two inside had sensed him and were smiling.