Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Long Time No See
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“Long time no see.”
Ban Slaine greeted Seo Woojin.
“Yeah. I didn’t think I’d be back here either.”
Ban Slaine burst into a hearty laugh at Seo Woojin’s words.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t even take a piss heading north?”
“Things in the world don’t always go as planned.”
Ban Slaine nodded as Seo Woojin joked around.
“Right, you didn’t come all this way just to travel. What’s up?”
When Ban Slaine asked, Seo Woojin looked around the room.
Inside were just him, Ban Slaine, and Ailin.
‘Should be fine to talk here.’
The fewer people who knew what he was about to say, the better.
And these were people he could trust.
“I’ve heard the Iyer army is heading north.”
“Mm.”
Ban Slaine’s brow furrowed slightly.
“The royal family’s on edge about it too.”
He hadn’t expected them to come this far, but he was keeping a close watch in case any sparks flew their way.
They were already stretched thin just blocking northern monsters. If something broke out in the south, it’d be a real headache.
“No need to worry.”
“Mm? What makes you so sure?”
Ban Slaine tilted his head, and Seo Woojin spoke up.
“They’re not coming to fight. They chose to head north to seek shelter.”
“Tell me more.”
Ban Slaine’s expression turned serious.
“The Saint King of Iyer is one of the Apostles.”
Starting with that, Seo Woojin explained everything happening now.
Of course, he lied that it was the emperor, not him, who’d changed the Iyer army’s direction, but the big picture was the same.
“…Is that true?”
“The Empire’s emperor and Crusiel seem about 90% convinced. Even if not an Apostle, he’s definitely a Demon King follower.”
Ban Slaine sighed as Seo Woojin spoke firmly.
“Those disgusting bastards are everywhere.”
They might even have infiltrated Sion.
No, they definitely had.
Not Apostles, but low-level followers mixed in for sure.
Even after purging them multiple times, rooting them out completely was still a distant goal.
“So to avoid repeating the same mistakes, we’ve decided to seek refuge in Sion for now.”
“You want us to take them in?”
“Yes.”
Seo Woojin nodded.
From Ban Slaine’s position, it wasn’t an easy decision.
Letting in an army of 120,000?
If they turned hostile, the kingdom’s very survival could be at stake.
Unlike the Empire or Iyer, Sion didn’t have the manpower to mobilize that many troops.
They struggled against external threats as it was. If trouble brewed from inside…
“It’s the emperor who guarantees it.”
Seo Woojin said, but Ban Slaine shook his head.
“We’re not a vassal state of the Empire.”
He’d forgotten.
Sion’s people lived off their pride alone.
A guarantee from the emperor meant nothing to them.
Seo Woojin let out a sigh.
“There’s no other option besides Sion.”
It was a snap decision, but looking back, no better choice existed.
“Still…”
“How about I guarantee it? I’ll stake my name on it—they won’t harbor any other intentions.”
When Ban Slaine hesitated, Seo Woojin said firmly once more.
“You?”
Seo Woojin’s guarantee carried far more weight than the emperor’s ever could.
Not just because he was a hero.
He was a comrade who’d fought tooth and nail alongside Massive Guardian’s soldiers.
On top of that, he was Ban Slaine’s disciple in a personal sense.
With Seo Woojin vouching so confidently, Ban Slaine had no choice but to reconsider.
“I can’t decide this alone.”
“I know.”
Even as Sion’s strongest defender, Ban Slaine was just a count.
Only the king could settle something this major.
“But since I trust you, I’ll think positively about it.”
“Thank you.”
No firm yes, but Seo Woojin figured that was enough.
The Ban Slaine he knew could convince the royals and nobles.
“Anyway, you didn’t come just to tell me that, right?”
If so, he’d have come alone.
But Seo Woojin had brought the other heroes.
Meaning there was other business.
“We’re here to hunt a bit.”
“The academy wasn’t enough, huh.”
Ban Slaine grasped his intent immediately.
“The academy’s fine, but I need to grow faster.”
Ban Slaine nodded in understanding.
“Heading north, then?”
“Yes.”
The north was the Demon Realm.
The most dangerous one among all Demon Realms in the world.
Which meant rapid growth was possible.
“You’ll need support.”
“Rations will do.”
Ban Slaine nodded.
“I’ll have them ready.”
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks.”
Seo Woojin bowed, and Ban Slaine chuckled wryly.
The stronger the heroes rampaged in the north, the better it was for Massive Guardian too.
“I know you and the heroes are strong, but still, be careful. The north is full of unknown dangers.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The north was vast.
Its area alone was several times Sion’s.
Only about 30% had been charted.
The remaining 70% hadn’t even been properly explored, let alone pioneered.
There could be beings so powerful even Ban Slaine would tense up.
‘One of them was Kratos, right?’
The strongest demonic beast on land.
A Demon King kin even Ban Slaine couldn’t guarantee victory over.
Though he’d never seen it himself.
“Oh, and about that kid you left in my care.”
“You mean Rinar?”
Seo Woojin recalled a name he’d completely forgotten.
Ever since bringing the kid to the capital, nonstop crises had kept him buried.
‘Sorry about that.’
Training under Ban Slaine was best for Rinar, but never once visiting was still a problem.
“How’s he doing?”
“Talented kid. A few more years like this, and he’ll be pretty useful.”
“That good?”
Seo Woojin had valued Rinar only for his unique ability.
But from Ban Slaine’s words, the kid had sword talent too.
“Think of it as talent reaching Superhuman realm.”
Seo Woojin’s eyes widened.
Like picking up a pretty roadside pebble that turned out to be a gold nugget.
“Of course, still a long way off.”
Ban Slaine grinned at Seo Woojin’s reaction and stood.
“Curious? Why not see for yourself?”
“…Yeah, I should.”
Seo Woojin smiled sheepishly and rose too.
“He should be at the training grounds now.”
In the end, they didn’t meet Rinar.
“That damn brat ran off again?”
From Ban Slaine, it sounded like this happened often.
‘Some things don’t change.’
From their first meeting in Jinhan, Rinar was a troublemaker.
Stealing from his own sister’s shop and bolting, after all.
“Well, we’ll meet eventually.”
Disappointing, but Seo Woojin wasn’t in a rush.
He’d have to return to Massive Guardian for supplies anyway—plenty of chances.
“Just seeing his face turn red from shame is enough for me.”
Seo Woojin was satisfied with that.
“So, when do you plan to head out?”
At the question, Seo Woojin checked on his comrades.
They were wandering Massive Guardian, peering around with curious eyes.
The soldiers were eyeing the heroes right back.
“Soon as rations are ready.”
No reason to waste time.
They’d come to grow faster, so no dawdling.
“Got it. I’ll tell them to prep right away.”
“Thank you.”
“Wait here a sec.”
Once Ban Slaine left, Seo Woojin turned to Ailin.
She stood by his side with her usual cool expression.
“You doing okay?”
Nod.
Ailin nodded.
“Heard you’ve been busy, Woojin.”
“Yeah… you could say that.”
Words couldn’t cover the nonstop chaos.
“Glad you’re safe.”
A small smile touched her face.
“Survived this north with nothing to my name—piece of cake.”
Her smile sharpened at his joke.
“You wouldn’t have without my help.”
“Yeah, true.”
Seo Woojin laughed too.
Back when he was under level 10, he’d have died over a hundred times without Ailin.
No, definitely dead.
She’d helped him immensely.
“Heard you made upper knight?”
“Thanks to you.”
Ailin had grown far beyond their last meeting.
“About that…”
Ailin cautiously gauged Seo Woojin’s reaction before speaking.
“Yeah?”
When he looked at her questioningly, she said it.
“I’m coming with you this time.”
Seo Woojin’s eyes widened slightly.
But he couldn’t allow it.
Their destination was deeper than Massive Guardian’s subjugation zones.
Too much for her current level.
“Sorry, no can do.”
“Do you know this north better than me?”
“…No.”
Seo Woojin, about to refuse, shut his mouth at her words.
Even after a year here, his knowledge didn’t surpass hers.
“Personal strength matters, but in the north, other things are more crucial.”
Climate, terrain, ecosystem.
Her northern knowledge could help a lot.
“So I won’t take no for an answer. I’m coming.”
Her resolve to follow even if dragged away burned strong.
“Fine, let’s do it.”
Seo Woojin relented and agreed to go with her.
‘I’ll protect her from danger.’
Unless two or more Apostles showed up at once, it wouldn’t be hard.
“Thank you.”
Ailin smiled and bowed, and Seo Woojin shrugged.
“Brace for hardship though. It’s gonna be a real forced march.”
“That’s what I want.”
Ailin wasn’t just tagging along to stay by Seo Woojin’s side.
She wouldn’t deny that urge entirely, but other reasons weighed more.
‘I need to get stronger too.’
She couldn’t level up like the heroes, but risking her life in constant battle would sharpen her skills for sure.
Ailin wanted to reach a realm not falling behind the heroes.