Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Why Do Sad Premonitions Always Come True?
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Seo Woojin gritted his teeth as he thought.
“Keep your lower body steady!”
Slash-!
With Ban Slaine’s shout, blood sprayed from his thigh.
A sharp pain shot through him.
But Seo Woojin paid it no mind.
After all the beatings he’d taken from Ban Slaine, this much wasn’t enough to stiffen his movements.
“Hup!”
He planted both feet firmly on the ground and swung his sword down.
The air split as the black blade came crashing toward Ban Slaine’s head.
It was a strike like a bolt of lightning.
But his opponent was Ban Slaine.
One of the strongest in this world.
It was an attack that would split the skull of any ordinary knight before they could even react properly, yet he dodged it effortlessly with a slight tilt of his head.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-kwak-!
The demonic energy leaking from the tip of Seo Woojin’s sword churned up the earth.
“You’re still wasting power. Focus!”
It was an immense display of force, but to Ban Slaine, it was just a waste of demonic energy.
The excess energy that hadn’t been properly condensed in the blade was spilling out in streams.
Of course, this was still impressive, but Ban Slaine expected more.
At that moment, Seo Woojin’s sword danced through the air.
Ban Slaine admired the fluid, flowing movements.
It had been nine months since returning from the subjugation.
In that time, Ban Slaine had trained Seo Woojin mercilessly.
Swordsmanship, body techniques, and demonic energy control.
Aside from time to eat and sleep, he’d devoted everything to training.
On top of that, daily spars that rivaled real battles with high-ranking knights.
Thanks to this, Seo Woojin had grown stronger.
His level hadn’t risen without hunting monsters, but his actual skill had advanced to a level incomparable to during the subjugation.
Ban Slaine didn’t believe level was the absolute measure of strength.
Of course, leveling up did make one stronger.
But that alone left you hollow inside.
What good was vast demonic energy or many skills if you couldn’t wield them properly?
Only then could you become a true powerhouse.
That was why he’d taught Seo Woojin the sword so harshly.
And this was the result.
Snip-!
‘Impressive!’
Ban Slaine glanced at his silver hair fluttering down.
Even with his power restricted, Seo Woojin’s sword had severed strands of it.
Something no one in Testaron—no, in all of Sion—had ever done.
And this from a novice who’d held a sword for less than a year.
It was a astonishingly rapid growth.
“That’s enough for today.”
Clang-!
With a clear metallic ring, Seo Woojin’s sword halted.
“Hoo—hoo—”
Rough breaths echoed.
It was no wonder.
He’d been sparring with Ban Slaine for a full three hours.
“You’re finally starting to look decent.”
“R-really?”
“Of course. You’ve still got a long way to go, but compared to when I first saw you, it’s a huge leap.”
Ban Slaine praised him proudly, but Seo Woojin didn’t look happy at all.
Nine whole months.
He’d cut back on sleep to immerse himself in training, and all he’d managed was to snip a few strands of hair.
How could he be satisfied?
But he couldn’t deny the significant progress either.
“Thank you.”
Seo Woojin bowed to Ban Slaine in gratitude.
Honestly, training with him wasn’t entirely welcome.
He never knew when a slip-up might reveal he was the Demon King.
Still, he’d accepted the offer because he needed to get stronger.
Fortunately, Ban Slaine showed no interest in Seo Woojin’s skills.
He focused solely on physical techniques and demonic energy manipulation.
Thanks to that, Seo Woojin had achieved substantial growth.
At the cost of near-death agony, of course.
“No, no. I’m the one grateful to you for following along without complaint.”
Ban Slaine looked at Seo Woojin with warm eyes.
“It’s almost been a full year since you arrived here.”
Exactly eleven months.
“You’ve changed a lot in that time.”
His body, personality, and mindset.
“It’s all thanks to your help.”
“Ha ha, what have we even done?”
Ban Slaine waved it off.
It wasn’t mere humility.
Sion’s support was laughably inadequate compared to other kingdoms.
The kingdom simply had no money.
“But you’ve tempered me like this.”
Seo Woojin was the first to receive personal instruction from Ban Slaine.
Even the knights of Massive Guardian only got occasional advice.
“That’s all I could offer...”
Ban Slaine looked embarrassed.
Then, perhaps to change the mood, he shifted topics.
“Today’s the last time we’ll cross swords like this.”
“Ah...”
Seo Woojin tilted his head for a moment before nodding.
“Yeah. Time flies.”
All heroes received support from their assigned kingdoms for growth.
The period was one year.
After that, they returned to the Empire for systematic training.
“I’d have liked to send you off after this year’s subjugation, but time doesn’t allow it.”
Pushing the subjugation forward a few months would have made it possible.
But that would burden the soldiers.
From Ban Slaine’s perspective, he wanted to head out fully prepared.
That way, he could minimize soldier casualties.
“No helping it.”
Seo Woojin smacked his lips, a hint of regret.
Participating in one more subjugation could have boosted his level quite a bit.
“I hear the others have already passed level 20?”
Most heroes except Seo Woojin had surpassed level 20 long ago.
The fastest had even reached level 30...
At a mere level 10, Seo Woojin was considerably behind.
“Worried about that?”
Ban Slaine asked.
Seo Woojin just grinned.
“Not at all.”
Level wasn’t everything.
He’d felt it in his bones over the past nine months.
Seo Woojin had no qualms about lagging behind the other heroes.
“Good.”
Ban Slaine nodded, satisfied with his confidence.
“Rest today and tomorrow. We’ll depart the day after.”
“Got it.”
He had little to pack, but there were bonds formed here.
Not many, so a day would suffice for farewells and preparations.
“Oh, and Eileen’s going with you.”
“...Pardon?”
What was this now?
He’d grown quite close to her.
The initial awkwardness had vanished during the subjugation, and daily training together made closeness inevitable.
Now they even spoke casually.
“Eileen’s with the Blue Shield Knights, isn’t she?”
“That’s right.”
“Can she leave Massive Guardian?”
Especially with subjugation approaching?
“Losing a mid-rank knight is a shame, but it’s what she wants.”
Her training had elevated her to mid-rank knight.
Not on Seo Woojin’s level, but she’d grown at an incredible pace too.
‘No, that’s not the point.’
What she wants?
Her, with her pride as the North’s guardian, leaving Massive Guardian?
“Don’t refuse her. You’ll need a guide to the Empire anyway, right?”
“That’s true, but...”
A mid-rank knight as a guide.
What luxury.
“Sigh... Alright.”
She’d volunteered, and Ban Slaine approved. No reason to say no.
He was just puzzled.
“Then rest up for today.”
Ban Slaine patted Seo Woojin’s shoulder and left the training grounds.
‘The Empire, huh...’
He’d been distracted by Eileen’s news, but that wasn’t the priority now.
The 100 heroes gathering in one place after a year.
As the Demon King among them, what should he do?
It was time to ponder that.
The farewells were brief.
Seo Woojin didn’t have many people to bid goodbye to anyway.
Testaron, Gerard, Jo Han.
And a few soldiers he’d shared life and death with.
After short goodbyes with them, he faced Ban Slaine last.
“Thank you for everything.”
He’d been off-putting at first.
Still was, really.
But he’d received much from him.
He no longer showed it outwardly.
‘Gratitude is gratitude.’
Without Ban Slaine, Seo Woojin wouldn’t be alive now.
Even if he’d survived by miracle, he wouldn’t be this strong.
In many ways, he was a benefactor.
“Our parting won’t last long.”
The Demon King’s descent was imminent.
No one knew exactly when war would erupt, but estimates pegged it within five years at latest.
It could be tomorrow.
Then, Seo Woojin would face Ban Slaine again.
‘Hopefully not as Demon King’s army versus the heroes.’
Thinking that, he clasped Ban Slaine’s outstretched hand.
“I hope you take it slow.”
It would be best in many ways.
“I’d like that too.”
Unsure how he took the words, Ban Slaine just chuckled and let it pass.
Then he looked at Eileen.
She stood silently beside Seo Woojin, awaiting orders—unchanged from her initial icy demeanor.
“The road to the Empire is long.”
“I know.”
A full month just for travel.
“I trust you’ll handle it well, but take care of yourself.”
Ban Slaine’s words carried worry and warmth.
“...Thank you.”
Eileen hesitated, then saluted.
The send-off ended like that.
No grand ceremony, no tearful parting, not even parting words of encouragement.
As if it were routine, the two left Massive Guardian.
Promising a not-too-distant reunion.
‘Back to square one, huh.’
More worry and anxiety than excitement or anticipation.
Hoping nothing unusual happened, Seo Woojin walked toward the Empire with Eileen.