Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Return Through the Gate
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Chapter 242.
Kim Da-hye and all the other injured were saved.
Among them was Kim Tae-jin, whom Seo Woo-jin had personally treated.
Of course, unless they leveled up for full recovery, they’d have to survive on nothing but porridge for the time being.
“Thank you.”
Gye Su-ji had also luckily recovered.
The priest’s holy power had purified all the demonic energy eating away at her body.
It hadn’t been easy, but she’d eventually healed enough to move around.
“…Thank you.”
Kim Da-hye, regaining her senses, bowed her head to Seo Woo-jin.
“Hey, no need to thank me for that.”
Seo Woo-jin shook his head and declined.
He’d only done what needed doing; he didn’t think he deserved thanks.
“More importantly, both of you take better care of yourselves from now on. No more getting hurt.”
He hoped nothing like this would happen again.
‘I nearly lost three people.’
Kang Byung-gyu, Gye Su-ji, Kim Da-hye.
They’d been really lucky.
If things hadn’t aligned perfectly, he might not have saved them.
He’d managed to save them all this time, but who could guarantee luck like that would hold?
“I’m sorry. I just made things worse by stepping in.”
“…Sorry.”
The two hung their heads with gloomy expressions.
“No, no, you don’t need to blame yourselves.”
Seo Woo-jin chuckled and stopped them.
At that moment, he sensed someone approaching from behind.
“Mr. Seo Woo-jin.”
The presence belonged to Rudain.
He approached Seo Woo-jin looking utterly exhausted at a glance.
“Are you alright?”
Seo Woo-jin asked worriedly.
“Ah, yes. Thanks to Kim Da-hye, I didn’t get hurt.”
Rudain’s injuries amounted to just a minor scratch from the start of the battle.
After that, the metal suit had protected him, so he hadn’t been injured at all.
Yet his expression was poor.
The mental pain outweighed any physical suffering by far.
It was unavoidable.
Of the 300 knights, only fourteen had survived, including him.
That meant 286 casualties.
Even if they’d steeled themselves for death, it didn’t make the heartache any less.
“The living have to keep living.”
Seo Woo-jin consoled him, guessing at his inner turmoil.
“Thank you.”
Rudain nodded with a bitter smile.
“Anyway, what’s up?”
“Ah, preparations for return are complete.”
“Then we should head out now.”
Thanks to Derhan’s full support, the heroes could prepare to return to the Empire swiftly.
“But we might not need the carriages after all.”
Seo Woo-jin tilted his head at Rudain’s words.
“There’s no railway in Derhan, is there?”
Trains only ran within the Empire.
Derhan was right next door, but without entering Imperial territory, they couldn’t use them.
“The Sky Tower mages will open a gate, they informed us.”
“The Sky Tower?”
Seo Woo-jin’s eyes widened slightly.
He’d experienced the magic called gates a few times himself.
‘I heard they consume an unimaginable amount of mana and can’t be used lightly.’
They were only used for large-scale troop movements or in truly time-critical emergencies.
Hadn’t they come to Derhan by train and carriage for that reason?
“His Majesty issued an imperial decree to bring the heroes back as soon as possible.”
Seo Woo-jin let out a hollow laugh at Rudain’s explanation.
‘That guy’s in a real hurry.’
By now, the Emperor would know the Iyer army had changed course northward.
That’s why he was mobilizing the Sky Tower to summon the heroes—no, himself—to the capital.
“Great, saves us travel time.”
Seo Woo-jin smiled in response, and Rudain nodded.
“They said the gate opens within ten minutes, so we should move soon.”
“Got it.”
Seo Woo-jin took Kim Da-hye and Gye Su-ji, who were standing blankly behind him, and started walking.
Outside, the heroes who’d heard the news were already waiting for the gate.
They were buzzing noisily, talking about the subjugation.
But that didn’t last.
“It’s Seo Woo-jin.”
Those who spotted him began to fall silent.
Shock, fear, awe, envy.
‘Well, this is something.’
He hadn’t expected to get those looks from fellow heroes, of all people.
But it was inevitable.
The sight of Seo Woo-jin massacring the Ancient Orcs had been overwhelmingly dominant, nothing else could describe it.
From their perspective, he had to seem untouchable.
Seo Woo-jin slowly walked through the now-silent crowd of heroes.
Then, he suddenly noticed someone staring right at him.
‘Kim Tae-jin.’
His face half-smashed by Seo Woo-jin’s hand, he’d become grotesquely disfigured.
He bowed deeply in greeting.
‘The restriction’s working well.’
As long as Seo Woo-jin didn’t release his skill, Kim Tae-jin had to offer unconditional loyalty.
Otherwise, his head would burst.
Seo Woo-jin gave the man a heavy, sunken look before resuming his steps.
“This way.”
Rudain stopped in the middle of an open plaza.
“The gate opens here?”
It was a large square in the city center.
“Yes. This is the only suitable spot in the city for a gate.”
The city was indeed too small, with few places big enough.
“Then we’ll wait here. It should open any minute within ten…”
Woooooong—!
Seo Woo-jin trailed off.
He felt mana surging suddenly.
“…Right on time.”
“Fall back!”
Rudain shouted to the heroes.
They could get caught in a coordinate misalignment if too close.
Fwaaaaaah—!
The surging mana began taking shape, soon forming a massive gate.
‘A gate.’
Big enough for about five people to pass through at once, blue mana rippled like water on its surface.
And shortly after.
Someone emerged from the other side.
Black suit, hair neatly slicked back.
An expression so cold it bordered on icy.
Seo Woo-jin recognized him.
‘Barsik.’
A mage who’d risen in the hierarchy of magic, favored by Magic Duke Martes.
He fully crossed the gate and scanned the surroundings.
Then his eyes met Seo Woo-jin’s.
Flinch—
Shock flashed in Barsik’s eyes.
‘First time seeing someone over level 100, huh?’
Seo Woo-jin guessed why he was startled.
He’d sensed that Seo Woo-jin had reached the transcendent realm, equal to Magic Duke Martes.
His usually expressionless face now bore unmistakable disbelief.
“We’ve been waiting.”
But as Rudain stepped forward with greetings, he reverted to his usual demeanor.
Though his mind was still in turmoil.
“By order of His Majesty and the Tower Lord, I’ve come for the heroes.”
Barsik spoke in his characteristic stiff tone.
“The gate won’t stay open long. Move through immediately.”
He said it without taking his eyes off Seo Woo-jin.
Rudain, noticing, cautiously gauged their moods and stepped back.
“We’ll return right away. Enter the gate from the front in order.”
Under Rudain and the knights’ guidance, the heroes began passing through the gate one by one.
Seo Woo-jin meant to follow, but couldn’t.
Barsik was approaching.
“What happened?”
No subject or object.
But Seo Woo-jin understood.
“Just worked hard at it.”
“You think that’s an answer?”
The Seo Woo-jin Barsik knew was worlds apart from this one.
They were practically different beings.
In just a few months.
To reach the transcendent realm in that time…
The heroes had been summoned less than two years ago—way too fast.
Even decades of grueling training for mages and knights rarely produced anyone at that level; only a handful ever did.
“And yet, just two years.”
Barsik’s eyes blazed with jealousy.
But he didn’t act rashly.
The heroes needed to grow to save this world.
Besides, Seo Woo-jin was now beyond what he could handle.
Composing himself inwardly, Barsik spoke.
“Hoo—you’re not going to the Academy.”
“To the palace?”
Seo Woo-jin had already guessed the Emperor’s intentions.
“Yes. His Majesty summons you. Head straight to the palace upon arriving in the capital.”
“Understood.”
Seo Woo-jin nodded.
He had plenty to discuss with the Emperor anyway.
He needed to ensure the Iyer army could cross the vassal states to Zion.
‘And take the comrades along.’
No need to schedule a separate audience; better to handle it right away.
“The Tower Lord seeks you too.”
“Magic Duke?”
Seo Woo-jin tilted his head.
Nothing came to mind that she’d want him for.
“‘I’ve uncovered some information,’ she said you’d understand.”
Seo Woo-jin’s face lit up with realization.
‘The Xenonia matter.’
Martes must have extracted something useful from her.
“I’ll head to the Sky Tower right after the Emperor.”
Barsik’s brow furrowed slightly.
He bristled at how casually he spoke of summoning the Emperor like a friend.
But he didn’t stop him.
“Do so.”
Barsik turned sharply and approached the gate.
Seo Woo-jin watched his back briefly, shrugged, and followed.
Quite a few heroes had passed through by then; their numbers had thinned.
“Mister! Here, over here! Come this way!”
But his comrades were still waiting off to the side.
They’d been waiting for him, it seemed.
‘Glad everyone’s safe.’
Some had been injured, lives hanging by a thread.
But all survived.
And they’d each gained a few levels too.
Not a bad haul from this subjugation.
‘Still not enough, though.’
That’d be resolved heading north.
“Mister! Scold Da-hye! So she never does something reckless again! She needs a good talking-to!”
“No need. I’m fine without it.”
Lee Ji-ah fumed, while Kim Da-hye blankly shook her head.
“You need it. Do you know how worried I was?”
“She’s right.”
Seo Woo-jin smiled at his rowdy comrades and approached.
“Let’s head home too.”