Chapter 244
Chapter 244
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: Bound for Massive Guardian
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To be precise, he had massacred numerous lives, including the emperor's son.
Among them had been a previous guardian.
“The Spear Duke could not handle him and perished.”
Seo Woo-jin nodded as he recalled Ardethos's prowess.
‘He was certainly stronger than your average guardians.’
At least stronger than the current Grand Duke or Sword Duke, without a doubt.
‘If it was the emperor's son, then the crown prince? How did he end up dying?’
No matter how formidable Ardethos was, he could not have infiltrated the heart of the empire.
Right nearby stood the Sky Tower, home to the Magic Duke, and the imperial palace teemed with countless powerhouses.
That was precisely why they had not yet laid a hand on the emperor.
Seo Woo-jin's question was answered by the emperor himself.
“It was a disaster that unfolded during the subjugation of the Demon Realm.”
“Ah…….”
Subjugations of the Demon Realm were carried out periodically.
Just as they had been from Massive Guardian.
The crown prince had participated in that subjugation at the time, and Ardethos had appeared, leading to battle.
He had fallen in the process.
Naturally, the enraged emperor had ordered Ardethos's capture and execution, but it had failed.
Instead, even the Spear Duke who had pursued him had lost his life, and the fiend had toyed with the emperor before vanishing without a trace.
That incident had occurred over twenty years ago.
He had not shown himself even once since then, yet now he had appeared in Derhan.
The emperor had no choice but to be furious.
“Regrettable. So regrettable.”
He seemed deeply regretful that he could not exact revenge on the enemy who had slain his child.
“Might I ask one favor of you?”
After agonizing for a long while, the emperor spoke to Seo Woo-jin in a heavy voice.
‘I can more or less guess what it is.’
What else could the emperor possibly request at this point?
“Shall I bring you Ardethos?”
“Is it possible?”
The emperor believed in Seo Woo-jin's strength.
Yet because of that one prior failure, he did not seem entirely convinced that Ardethos could be captured.
Seo Woo-jin smirked.
‘Possible?’
Ardethos was strong.
A wielder of demonic energy on par with Xenonia, whom he had faced before.
‘But he’s no match for me.’
No matter how much the fiend soared or flew, Seo Woo-jin stood above him.
“I’ll bring you his head.”
He was already resolved to actively hunt down the Apostles anyway.
With the emperor's reward thrown in on top, there was no reason to refuse.
“If possible, bring him alive. I wish to sever his head myself.”
That was not a bad deal either.
It would require a bit more effort, but he could bear that much.
“Understood.”
Seo Woo-jin nodded.
Another deal had been struck with the emperor.
And this time too, the compensation seemed quite substantial.
“Where are we going?”
Kang Byung-gyu blinked as he asked.
“Sion. To be precise, a place called Massive Guardian.”
Kang Byung-gyu furrowed his brow at Seo Woo-jin's answer.
“So, where exactly is that?”
“I know! It’s the kingdom supporting you, Uncle! Right, Uncle?”
This time, it was Lee Ji-ah who answered.
“Right. A small kingdom located at the northernmost tip of the continent.”
Kang Byung-gyu paused to dredge up the memory, then nodded.
“Now that you mention it, I think I saw it when we studied geography before.”
“But what’s Massive Guardian? And why do we have to go there…….”
This time, it was Kye Soo-ji asking.
It was only natural that she was confused—they had suddenly gathered the companions with plans to depart for Sion tomorrow.
“Massive Guardian is a fortress in Sion’s northern reaches, at the very northernmost edge of the continent.”
Seo Woo-jin gave a brief explanation.
Of what Massive Guardian and the North were like.
“…Damn, I remember now. It’s the fortress holding back the Demon Realm, right?”
Kang Byung-gyu smacked his forehead.
“Right. And we’re planning to level up there.”
Everyone's eyes widened at Seo Woo-jin's words.
“In the Demon Realm?”
“Just us?”
“Is that for real?”
Growth was possible even at the academy, but it paled in comparison to the Demon Realm.
For Seo Woo-jin's companions, who burned with ambition for rapid progress above all else, this was nothing short of welcome news.
Moreover, they had some experience with the Demon Realm already, so they weren’t overly worried.
“No matter how tough it gets, can it be worse than that last subjugation? Haha!”
Seeing Goo Dong-hwan laugh heartily, Seo Woo-jin smiled inwardly.
‘Is that so?’
They were certainly strong.
Far beyond what they had been when he was at Massive Guardian.
And yet Seo Woo-jin was convinced.
The North was not as easy as they imagined.
“We’ll hit level 100 there. We’re not coming back until then.”
“Won’t that take too long?”
Unlike the others, Kye Soo-ji maintained her composure, but she asked with a worried expression.
“It won’t be quick, for sure? The experience needed is massive. Still…….”
Seo Woo-jin looked around at them.
“It’ll be faster than the academy. By a huge margin.”
No one knew that better than he did.
* * *
“I don’t understand why I have to do this.”
Varshik wore an unhappy expression.
“It is the emperor's command. As long as you belong to the Sky Tower, you must obey.”
“But…….”
“It is also what I desire.”
Varshik had no choice but to fall silent at Marthes's words.
For him, her will outweighed even the emperor's decree.
“Understood.”
Varshik still looked displeased, but he made no further complaints.
“Fine weather today, isn’t it?”
Marthes, out of the Sky Tower after a long time, looked up at the sky.
“They say in the heroes’ homeland there’s a phrase: ‘sky high, horses fat.’”
“Fits today’s weather perfectly.”
The autumn sky stretched endlessly high, clear without a single cloud.
After gazing at it quietly, she began to walk.
“Let us hurry.”
“I’ll take the lead.”
The two strolled through the streets like father and daughter.
One might expect her to be excited for an outing after so long, but Marthes showed no such elation.
If anything, her face was darkened, as if burdened by worries.
‘That place will be utterly unforgiving.’
The Demon Realm in the North.
Beyond Massive Guardian lay that white hell, growing ever colder, she had heard.
As the Demon King’s descent drew near, the abnormal climate worsened.
‘I wonder if they can endure such a place.’
Marthes let out a sigh.
“We’ve arrived, Tower Lord.”
Their destination was the imperial palace.
“Let us enter.”
No one barred Marthes's path.
Her position as Magic Duke granted her free access to the palace.
As she continued onward, she was greeted by Seo Woo-jin.
“You’ve come?”
“It’s been a while.”
A long time if it felt long, short if it felt short.
Yet because so much had happened in between, it felt like quite some time.
“I surely had word sent yesterday that you should visit the tower.”
“Ah, that…….”
Seo Woo-jin scratched his cheek.
He had heard from Ronain that she was looking for him.
But Seo Woo-jin had not gone.
Not for any grand reason.
With preparations to head to Massive Guardian with his companions, he had simply forgotten all about it.
“My apologies.”
Lying before her was not a wise choice, so Seo Woo-jin bowed his head sincerely.
“Hmm.”
Marthes pouted briefly, then accepted the apology.
“There was an important matter, but this too must be fated. Come find me when the opportunity arises later.”
“…Couldn’t you just tell me now?”
There were ears around, of course, but with her magic, blocking sound would be trivial.
No need to make time later if she shared it now……
But Marthes did not seem to think so.
“We shall leave it for next time.”
Seo Woo-jin had no choice but to give up.
‘Is there some reason I don’t know?’
As always, her inner thoughts were hard to fathom.
Not because she was whimsical or capricious, but because she was far too profound.
She peered into depths and distances beyond Seo Woo-jin’s grasp.
“Understood.”
As Seo Woo-jin nodded, Marthes gestured to the side.
“Now, let us begin.”
“I’ll prepare right away.”
The reason the two had come was to open a gate.
A gate to transport the heroes to Sion.
As Marthes had told Varshik, this was at the emperor's direct command.
To accommodate Seo Woo-jin.
Woooooong—
Varshik began casting the spell to open the gate.
Just watching him handle the entire process alone showed what an exceptional mage he was.
“That little girl is the Magic Duke?”
“I saw her before, but she really looks like a doll.”
Seo Woo-jin’s companions whispered as they saw Marthes.
She appeared far too young to be one of the five who guarded the empire.
“Still, it’s best to show respect.”
Seo Woo-jin warned them, just in case.
Marthes was a being who had lived through ages, despite her appearance.
Enough to call the white-haired emperor a child.
“How strong is she, I wonder? Stronger than you, Uncle?”
Lee Ji-ah asked in a sly tone.
At that, everyone looked to Seo Woo-jin.
They were curious too, it seemed.
“…For now, I fall short.”
If he used ‘Demon King Transformation,’ he was confident he could overwhelm her.
But in his normal state?
He had beaten Dark Duke and repelled Ardethos.
Yet he could not be certain he had reached a higher realm than her.
‘The very fact that I’m thinking this means I’m beneath her.’
Just what realm had Marthes attained?
And how much stronger was the true Demon King, whom even she could not handle?
‘No way he’s stronger than when I use ‘Demon King Transformation,’ right?’
He thought not.
If the real Demon King were that powerful, this world would have perished long ago.
No hero could surpass Seo Woo-jin in ‘Demon King Transformation.’
Still, he resolved not to slack off and to keep striving.
Woooooong—!
At that moment, the mana began to surge.
“Leave the rest to me.”
“Hah—huff! Th-thank you.”
Varshik stepped back, sweating profusely.
The mana he had expended in that short time was immense.
In his place stepped Marthes.
With her usual calm expression, she extended her hand forward.
The mana, which had seemed on the verge of exploding, instantly stabilized.
And then……
Fwaaaaaah—!
The gate formed.
A portal connecting the empire to Massive Guardian.
‘As expected…….’
Seo Woo-jin gave a wry smile upon seeing it.
He knew for certain from that single display.
‘I still can’t reach the Magic Duke.’
She had attained a realm one dimension beyond his own.
“You may depart now.”
Seo Woo-jin nodded at Marthes, who turned and spoke.