Chapter 243
Chapter 243
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: The Subjugation Ends
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The subjugation was over.
They had hunted a staggering 40,000 Ancient Orcs.
Of course, Seowoojin had taken down more than 10,000 of them single-handedly, but it was still an undeniable feat.
The losses on their side had been severe as well.
Most of the heroes were injured, and the knights had been wiped out.
It was a great victory, but not one they could celebrate.
Perhaps that was why.
Even as they crossed through the gate into the empire's capital, the heroes showed no signs of joy.
They only revealed a faint sense of relief at having survived.
"Everyone, you have done well."
Waiting to greet the heroes in the capital was none other than Ronain.
"You may return to the academy immediately and get some rest."
There were no ceremonies or formalities.
He simply sent the weary heroes back to rest as quickly as possible.
"I was worried they'd make us do some kind of return ceremony, but this is a relief."
"You think this is Korea?"
"The nobles love that stuff."
The heroes welcomed Ronain's words and headed back to the academy.
Though their physical fatigue had mostly faded, they were utterly exhausted mentally.
"Lord Seowoojin, please stay behind."
Ronain approached Seowoojin and said.
"I've already heard from Mage Barsik."
"Is that so? Then I won't need to explain."
Ronain nodded silently.
Then, cautiously, he continued.
"I've heard you performed tremendously in this subjugation."
Word of it was impossible to contain.
Seowoojin's exploits were beyond description as merely impressive.
"It just turned out that way."
Seowoojin scratched his head as he replied.
Truthfully, this wasn't the scenario he had initially envisioned.
'I tried to stay as uninvolved as possible.'
The situation had grown more dire than expected, and in his anger, he had charged in without thinking.
Thanks to that, all his comrades had survived, but the unwanted attention was a bit uncomfortable.
"Impressive."
Unlike Barsik, there wasn't a trace of jealousy in Ronain's eyes.
They were filled only with admiration and awe.
Feeling burdened by that gaze, Seowoojin averted his eyes slightly and spoke.
"So, when do we depart?"
The heroes were all leaving the gate area and returning to the academy.
Only Seowoojin, Ronain, and the knights who had come to greet them remained.
"Ah, the imperial family said they'd send a carriage... Here it comes."
As Ronain spoke, a carriage rapidly approaching from afar came into view.
It was extravagantly adorned with a white body and gold accents.
Just looking at it showed how highly the imperial family regarded Seowoojin.
"Please, board."
When the carriage arrived, Ronain helped Seowoojin aboard and mounted his horse.
"We will escort you to the palace."
Ronain and the White Knights personally guarded the carriage.
Of course, Seowoojin didn't really need it, but he didn't refuse their courtesy.
Surrounded by the knights, the carriage sped along.
The roads had been cleared in advance, so it never slowed even once.
Thanks to that, they soon arrived at the palace.
As before, the carriage only stopped after entering the Divine Palace where the emperor resided.
"Hmm..."
Seowoojin stepped down and looked around.
'The atmosphere is tense.'
He could guess why.
Several matters demanding the empire's attention had arisen.
'Both Aier and these newly appeared Apostles.'
Fortunately, both had been resolved well, but from the empire's perspective, it must have aged them a decade.
"His Majesty awaits. Please enter."
The chamberlain, already waiting, guided Seowoojin.
After traversing the long corridor, they reached that opulent audience chamber once more.
"The hero Seowoojin has arrived."
"Let him enter."
The doors opened at the emperor's voice.
Only the emperor was inside.
'Of course. Discussions that must remain secret.'
All nobles and attendants had been dismissed.
Seowoojin nodded inwardly and entered the audience chamber.
The doors closed behind him, leaving only the two men inside.
"...I've heard the story."
"Is that so?"
"I was about to ask you to step in, but you handled it on your own."
Seowoojin shrugged.
"Think of it as after-service."
The emperor naturally couldn't understand the reference but took it as a gesture of goodwill.
"However, I hear the troops are heading north, not to Aier."
"Ah, that was my order."
Seowoojin summarized his conversation with Oien and explained.
The emperor's expression grew grave.
"So you're saying there's a high chance the Holy King is one of the Demon King's followers?"
"Not just any follower—possibly even an Apostle."
It was confirmed by Benoin, but he chose not to reveal his existence.
"Good heavens!"
The emperor's face showed utter disbelief.
Aier was the Holy Kingdom.
It was known for harboring the deepest enmity toward the Demon King and his ilk.
How could the one at its pinnacle be an Apostle?
"There's no other explanation. Plenty of people are already suspicious."
At Seowoojin's words, the emperor furrowed his brow.
Crusiel's Agna had voiced similar suspicions.
"Those bastards..."
This was no trivial matter to overlook.
They had to deal with the Holy King somehow.
Otherwise, when the Descent War broke out, they were likely to get stabbed in the back.
"Well, anyway, that's why I sent Aier's army north. Sending them back would just repeat the same mess."
"The best course of action, then."
The emperor tapped the armrest of his throne with his finger.
Tap- Tap-
Then, suddenly, he asked.
"Where are they heading?"
"Sion. Specifically, I plan to send them to Massive Guardian."
The emperor's eyes widened slightly.
"That place...?"
"It's beyond the empire's or Aier's influence. They could preserve their forces well until the Demon King descends."
Of course, they'd suffer in the cold.
"Which is why you'll need to speak to the vassal states between the empire and Sion."
He didn't specify what, but the emperor understood.
"You want them to open the way?"
"And provide supplies while they're at it."
It was an army of 120,000.
The daily consumption of food and materiel would be immense.
They might have brought some provisions, but they'd run out quickly.
Supplies were essential to reach Sion.
If food ran short, they could turn to banditry at any moment.
Just as they had in Derhan.
'Oien's in charge now, so it won't happen easily, but no need to starve them deliberately.'
For now, Oien's control and fear of Seowoojin kept them in line, but hunger could erase all that.
"I shall grant your request."
The emperor nodded.
'To be precise, it's not a request but a deal.'
No need to ruffle feathers by pointing that out.
"Thank you."
Seowoojin bowed his head graciously.
"Whew—thanks to you, we've overcome one crisis."
If war had erupted with Aier, it wouldn't have ended with just those two nations.
Neighboring countries would have followed suit, weakening the entire world's forces.
What Seowoojin had done prevented all that.
It was no wonder the emperor was so pleased.
"As recompense, I have one request."
Seowoojin's demeanor was hardly fitting for addressing the emperor.
But the emperor didn't mind.
He had already gauged Seowoojin's true power.
Better to keep him as a friendly ally than an enemy.
"A request? What is it?"
His attitude suggested he'd grant almost anything.
Seowoojin's feats in stopping Aier's army alone were worth plundering the imperial treasury.
On top of saving the heroes from the Ancient Orcs and repelling Apostles.
As long as it wasn't handing over the entire empire, he'd approve.
"It's nothing major. My comrades and I were thinking of going somewhere else to level up."
"Hm? The heroes?"
"The academy's growth rate has limits."
Even with continental support, there were 98 heroes.
Resources were focused on the top ones.
Raising them to Seowoojin's desired level was impossible within the academy.
"Hmm."
The emperor pondered briefly, then nodded.
The faster the heroes grew, the better for them.
"Where do you plan to go?"
"Somewhere familiar to me, with plenty of prey."
The emperor instantly knew the place.
"Sion, then."
Seowoojin was backed by Sion.
And the only place with monsters to satisfy heroes was the Demon Realm.
Combining the two, the answer was clear.
"Yes."
Seowoojin nodded.
"Sion..."
Aier's forces were heading to Sion, and now some heroes too?
The emperor felt uneasy.
He wondered if Seowoojin had ulterior motives.
'He suspects I might have other intentions?'
Seowoojin clicked his tongue inwardly.
He could understand the emperor's anxiety.
He'd feel the same.
But he couldn't stay cooped up in the academy forever.
"Don't worry—it won't happen. Will you believe me if I swear on this sword?"
Seowoojin patted 'Karaniel' at his waist.
"Haha—"
The emperor laughed.
'Karaniel' was the divine sword he had bestowed.
The sword of the first hero, the most honorable blade.
He had no choice but to trust a vow on it.
"I trust you and your sword."
In the end, the emperor could only nod.
"Thank you."
Seowoojin smiled in response.
"By the way, you encountered Apostles?"
Anger flashed in the emperor's eyes.
Directed at the Apostles, but also at Crusiel for failing to detect them sooner.
"There were two."
"Good heavens, two of them?"
"One was named Ardethos; I didn't catch the other's name."
Seowoojin withheld Benoin's name, just in case.
But the emperor had no mind for that.
"Ardethos! That bastard appeared in Derhan?!"
He reacted with shock the moment he heard the name.
"Tell me what happened to him!"
The emperor demanded urgently.
"Unfortunately, he escaped."
He had tried to kill him but failed.
By the slimmest margin, the silver-haired Apostle had leaped through space and fled.
"Good heavens, that insolent..."
The emperor erupted in rage.
Seowoojin looked puzzled at his reaction.
'Just who the hell is this guy?'
He couldn't fathom why the emperor was so furious.
"Do you know him well?"
When Seowoojin asked, the emperor bit his lip and spat out the words like blood.
"He is the enemy who killed my son."