Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: To Sion
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A knight in pure white stepped forward.
The most honorable and devout knight in the Holy Kingdom of Iyer, Orien.
He slowly approached, stepping over the soldiers' corpses that had turned to black ash.
Seo Woojin stood still, simply watching him.
*Judging by his expression, it doesn't seem like this is what he wanted.*
The emotions plain on Orien's face were regret and self-loathing.
The one screaming his lungs out from behind him seemed to be the supreme commander leading the army.
*You'll pay for that soon enough...*
For now, he needed to talk to Orien.
He couldn't kill all 130,000—no, 120,000—of them.
Not to avoid a massacre, but to preserve his forces.
If he wiped them all out, it would create a massive gap in strength for the upcoming Dimensional War.
*Hurry up and wrap this, then grab a priest.*
Punishing the Iyer army was important, but Kim Da-hye's safety mattered more.
First, he'd speak with Orien, then take a priest and return to base camp.
"I did warn you."
Seo Woojin spoke to Orien, who had drawn near.
His body flinched visibly at the icy tone.
"It wasn't my intention."
"I figured as much."
Seo Woojin had no intention of blaming Orien.
Just looking at his face showed how hard he'd tried to stop the Iyer army.
But that didn't mean he could let it slide.
"Who made the call?"
The question was for Orien, but Seo Woojin's gaze was already fixed on Briatt.
"May I ask why you want to know?"
Seo Woojin answered Orien's grim expression with action.
Snap!
He flicked his finger, sending a tiny shard of chaos energy flying.
It was smaller than a fingernail, but the result was anything but small.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
"Arghhhh!"
"S-Supreme Commander!"
"Lord Briatt has fallen!"
The chaos energy shot in a straight line, exploding Briatt's head.
The knights and soldiers between Seo Woojin and him met the same fate.
Each had a fist-sized hole punched through their bodies as they collapsed.
"Aaagh! My arm! My arm!"
Those who died instantly were the lucky ones.
The survivors screamed as they lost limbs, destined to live as cripples or writhe in agony until a slow death.
Seo Woojin coldly swept his gaze over them, then turned away.
"Now you're in charge? Or is there someone higher up? Just say the name."
In that moment, Orien's mouth became a book of death.
The instant he named someone, death would descend.
The army's high-ranking staff officers swallowed dryly.
Praying their names wouldn't be called.
"...You can speak to me."
Fortunately, Orien didn't utter anyone else's name.
There was no need to increase the sacrifices, and with Briatt dead, he was now the closest thing to the army's true commander.
Seo Woojin nodded.
Now he could talk to Orien without wasting time.
"I'll give you one last chance."
"A chance?"
Hope flickered in Orien's eyes.
"Yeah, a chance."
Seo Woojin glanced at the terrified soldiers and holy knights behind him before continuing.
"Turn your forces around and head home right now. Do that, and I'll let you live."
The second act of mercy.
If Kim Da-hye weren't in critical condition, at least 30% of the troops here wouldn't have made it out today.
"But..."
Orien hesitated.
Deep down, he wanted to obey Seo Woojin immediately.
There was no point resisting a natural disaster they couldn't hope to defeat—it would only hurt them.
Fleeing was wiser than fighting.
And yet, Orien couldn't decide easily.
If they returned like this, he had no idea what the Holy King might do.
*What if His Majesty the Holy King really is connected to those guys?*
Many, including himself, would surely be executed.
Of course, he wasn't afraid of death.
The problem was that the Holy King wouldn't abandon the war.
If he was tied to the Demon King's followers, he'd do anything to weaken Iyer and the Empire.
And no one in Iyer could defy the Holy King's orders.
The war would continue regardless, and the outcome...
*We'll all die by his hand, or end up crippled.*
Retreating now would only buy a brief reprieve.
He needed another way.
"You refuse?"
As Orien stayed silent, Seo Woojin's eyes narrowed.
Killing intent surged at the same time.
Rrrrrumble!
He hadn't even summoned chaos energy—just the intent to kill made the air scream.
"No, no!"
Orien shouted desperately.
Staying meant certain disaster.
Seo Woojin reined in his killing intent as Orien waved his hands in denial.
"Speak."
His expression and voice remained frigid.
"Even if we retreat now, nothing will change!"
Orien hurriedly explained his concerns.
Even in his panic, he thoroughly concealed any hint that the Holy King might be linked to the Demon King's followers.
If the holy knights or soldiers learned he suspected him, things could spiral out of control.
No, disaster was guaranteed.
So he worded it as vaguely as possible.
Fortunately, Seo Woojin understood.
He grasped why Orien was saying this.
*Hm, he has a point.*
The Holy King was a Demon King's follower.
It was confirmed from Benoigne.
Which meant Orien's fears were likely to come true.
It would just repeat the same tragedy.
*What to do?*
With Orien in command, there was no reason to kill them.
But he couldn't send them back to Iyer either.
*Have to send them somewhere else.*
But where?
After a moment's thought, Seo Woojin's eyes gleamed faintly.
*There's one place that fits!*
A kingdom beyond the Empire and Iyer's influence, chronically short on manpower.
"Go to Sion."
"...Sion?"
Orien's face twisted slightly at Seo Woojin's words.
Sion?
"Surely you don't mean the northern kingdom?"
"Yeah. You won't have to return to Iyer, and it won't spark misunderstandings with the Empire."
Objectively speaking, Seo Woojin was right.
But from Orien's perspective, it was utterly out of left field.
"If that's the case, why not flee to some other kingdom?"
Heading south to richer lands made more sense than that barren place.
No, even assuming they'd be accepted—would Sion welcome them?
Who would joyfully open their gates to an army of 120,000 marching on their kingdom?
"I'll handle that part."
Seo Woojin thought of Ban Slaine as he replied.
He'd understand the situation and likely grant the favor.
Though it might take some doing.
"Give me a moment to think."
He couldn't decide on the spot.
He needed to consult the other staff officers and find the best path.
"No."
Seo Woojin shook his head.
He didn't know the other kingdoms well, and there was no time to delay.
"Decide now. If that's too hard, I'll help."
His gaze shifted to the high-ranking officers watching from behind.
Flinch!
"Guh!"
Their bodies froze under his emotionless, icy stare.
"W-We follow Lord Orien's lead!"
"Ignore our opinions!"
They shouted, realizing what "help" meant.
Orien gave a wry smile.
They were protecting their necks now, but time would change them back—he knew it well.
"As you say."
Orien sighed and nodded.
With Seo Woojin insistent, only one choice remained.
"We just go to Sion?"
"For now. We'll figure out the rest later."
"Understood."
Plenty of issues lingered.
They'd pass two kingdoms en route to Sion, needing supplies to sustain the army.
Pacifying the holy knights, priests, and staff officers was key, as was preventing desertions and misconduct among the troops.
120,000 strong.
That many required caution in every step of the march.
"Find a way. For now, head north."
Dire problems for Orien, but Seo Woojin saw them as manageable.
*Supplies? The Emperor will handle it. Crossing foreign lands won't be hard.*
The two kingdoms between Derhan and Sion were Empire vassals.
If the Iyer army sought refuge in Sion to avoid war, the Emperor would gladly order them passage.
Orien's leadership should keep the army in line.
With his thoughts sorted, Seo Woojin ordered Orien to move out, then requisitioned a high priest.
The one with the most outstanding healing skills, apparently.
Regardless of his faith, the man trembled at Seo Woojin's presence.
Seo Woojin took to the air with him.
*With such pure holy power, he can definitely treat Da-hye.*
He promised the near-fainting priest safe return unharmed if he behaved.
Of course, he didn't forget to threaten silence on any link between himself and the "black entity."
Intimidated with chaos energy on display, the priest nodded vigorously.
* * *
Irene suddenly looked up.
"What is it?"
Ban Slaine asked at her action.
"Oh, nothing."
Realizing she'd been distracted during training, she hurriedly shook her head.
"You're thinking of that guy, aren't you?"
But Ban Slaine smiled faintly, as if reading her mind.
"No, I'm not."
Ice settled on Irene's face.
"It's been a while since you've seen him. I understand."
Ban Slaine, of course, paid it no mind.
It had been quite some time since they'd returned to Massive Guardian under the guise of training.
They'd heard bits about Seo Woojin, but no direct meetings...
Irene's curiosity was natural.
"I just glanced because the weather's so foul."
"Sure, let's say that."
She sighed and shook her head at his amused tone.
"Speaking of, that guy's running quite late today."
Ban Slaine clicked his tongue and scanned the surroundings.
Checking if the person he sought was nearby.
But only falling snow met his eyes—no one else.
"I'm right here, you know?"
Then, a youthful voice sounded from directly behind Ban Slaine.
Startled, he whipped around.
There stood a boy he hadn't sensed at all moments ago, grinning at him.
"Heh, that rascal. Getting sneakier by the day."
A boy who could fool even Ban Slaine's superhuman senses.
"Rinar."
Ban Slaine called his disciple's name.