Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: Massive Guardian is a Heaven-Blessed Fortress
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Massive Guardian was a heaven-blessed fortress.
It was a colossal wall built from ice and stone, true to its name.
But the true strength of Massive Guardian lay not in the wall itself, but in the soldiers stationed there.
For six hundred years, ever since the fortress was built, its soldiers had never once let their guard down or ceased their training.
That was why those who had visited Massive Guardian even once sometimes called it the "Wall of Wails."
They said the sounds from those training echoed like wails of lament.
And today, those sounds rang out as well.
Even louder than usual.
"Huuuugh!"
"Ugh! Haah, haah!"
Knights here and there collapsed, vomiting.
Even in the freezing cold that could freeze their breath, sweat beaded on their foreheads.
"Get up. We're far from done."
Ban Slaine issued the cold command to those knights.
"Y-Yes, sir... Urk!"
Testron tried to force himself up but bent over and started vomiting.
"Tsk, tsk."
Ban Slaine clicked his tongue at the sight.
"It seems I haven't paid enough attention to you all lately. To be this weak."
Testron's face went pale white at those words.
'No one but the Empire's Guardians could endure this training!'
The sparring sessions were hellish.
"Look at the heroes. They're still full of energy, aren't they?"
At Ban Slaine's words, the knights' gazes turned to one side.
There, Seo Woo-jin's companions were warming up and chatting among themselves.
"They've done the same training for the same amount of time, yet they still look like they have plenty left in the tank."
The knights bit their lips.
"Even if the heroes aren't ordinary, can we really afford to lag behind them in training like this?"
"...No, sir."
Testron gritted his teeth, picked up his sword, and stood.
The other knights did the same.
The people of Sion had pride stronger than any nation on the continent.
Their competitive spirit burned fiercely—they didn't want to lose to anyone.
So no knight could just lie there after hearing such words from Ban Slaine.
"Please, let's go again."
"Me too..."
Ban Slaine smiled at their renewed zeal.
"Come on, then."
Kwaaaaang—!
* * *
"We got played by that guy again."
Seo Woo-jin shook his head as he watched the knights rolling on the ground, vomiting.
"Played how?"
"Nothing."
Seo Woo-jin brushed off Lee Ji-ah's question and gathered his companions.
"How's the training going?"
"...Feels like I'm dying."
"It's too hard!"
"But it seems helpful, right?"
"I agree."
The heroes shared their thoughts.
Seo Woo-jin smiled contentedly at their disheveled state.
'They've really been put through the wringer.'
He knew better than anyone how brutal Ban Slaine's training was.
It had to be maddeningly tough.
The non-combat classes, who were weaker in stamina compared to the others, looked pallid after vomiting who-knows-how-many times.
"Hang in there even if it's tough. Like Soo-ji said, it'll help a lot."
"...You sure? Feels more like we're just being tortured."
As Lee Ji-ah made a pouty face, Seo Woo-jin patted her head and continued.
"I went through the same training back in the day. So trust me. Stick it out for a few days, and you'll notice a huge difference."
His companions' eyes sparkled at the fact that Seo Woo-jin had undergone the same training.
They must have thought that was the secret to how he'd grown so strong.
'They've got the wrong idea... but whatever. As long as their skills improve, it's fine.'
Of course, they'd suffer immensely in the process.
"But why aren't you joining us, mister?"
Then, Lee Ji-ah asked, looking puzzled.
"Huh? Me?"
"It's unfair—you're the only one sitting it out."
Seo Woo-jin chuckled inwardly.
Unfair, huh...
"It's not that I don't want to train."
"Then do you have other stuff to do? You seem like you're just chilling all the time."
"...I do have my own things to handle, you know? And if I joined, you guys wouldn't be able to train."
Seo Woo-jin was telling the truth.
Why wouldn't he want to train?
Someone on Ban Slaine's level—sparring with him alone would yield massive gains.
But they weren't training together because their levels were simply too high.
"One sword strike, one slash, and the area around us would be a wasteland."
Even if they held back, nothing would survive within a hundred meters.
"Then our training's toast too."
"Yep."
Seo Woo-jin nodded at Gye Soo-ji's words.
Fortunately, they all seemed to understand.
Though they looked a bit disappointed.
"Does it bug you that much that I'm not suffering with you?"
"No, it's not that..."
Seo Woo-jin caught on to why Lee Ji-ah was trying to drag him in and let out a hollow laugh.
"Anyway, that's why I can't join."
After finishing, Seo Woo-jin glanced at the knights.
'Hm, looks like they're done.'
The knights sprawled on the ground appeared to have no strength left to stand.
Which meant it was the heroes' turn now.
"Alright, chit-chat's over. You all rested enough?"
As Seo Woo-jin clapped and spoke, their faces twisted.
"I'd like to rest a bit more..."
Lee Ji-ah tried a timid protest, but it was futile.
"Nope, no can do. Get up and hustle."
When Seo Woo-jin urged them on with a firm expression, they reluctantly peeled their butts off the ground.
"Then we'll be off!"
The heroes trudged away with faces like they were marching into hell.
Seo Woo-jin watched them go with a pleased expression before turning around.
'Alright, time for me to get to work.'
* * *
Oien stared at the distant fortress with a hardened expression.
A wall so grand it bordered on gigantic.
It was vast enough to accommodate his 120,000 troops, but his mind was filled with other thoughts.
'His Majesty the Holy King really...'
Just moments ago, Aeron had returned from the Grand Cathedral on Oien's orders.
And he reported what he had seen and heard there.
'Aeron wouldn't lie, so it must be true.'
That meant the war started in Aier was a plot by the Demon King's followers.
"To be played by heretics."
Oien felt rage boiling up.
Because of it, he paid no mind to the bone-chilling northern cold, the beautiful snowfields, or the massive Massive Guardian.
"You seem deeply troubled."
Had he been too lost in thought?
He hadn't noticed Aeron approaching right beside him.
"Can't be helped. It's shocking to learn that someone I've served loyally my whole life is a follower of the Demon King. It'd be weirder not to be shaken."
Aeron nodded at his words.
He could fully understand those feelings.
"What will you do?"
"Well..."
If he could, he'd march this army back to Aier and drag that heretic from her seat.
But he couldn't.
He had to keep his promise to the 'Black Entity.'
If he took his forces to Aier, the 'Black Entity' certainly wouldn't stay quiet.
'I can't let meaningless sacrifices happen.'
His only option now was to quietly enter Massive Guardian.
"At least Sion accepted us without complaint."
In truth, Aeron had thought Sion would refuse entry.
No, no one would have imagined entering Sion so easily.
What kingdom accepts 120,000 foreign troops without conditions?
And Sion wasn't even on good terms with Aier.
It was natural for Aeron to think pessimistically.
Yet astonishingly, Sion not only permitted entry but provided supplies and conveniences.
It was utterly incomprehensible.
As if the 'Black Entity' wielded massive influence over Sion.
'Come to think of it, the Empire's the same.'
The vassal states had opened their paths without resistance too.
With the Emperor's command, the 'Black Entity' might possess power beyond his imagination.
"We'll plan the next steps after entering Massive Guardian."
"Understood."
Aeron bowed his head in response.
"Hmm."
With the conversation wrapped up, Massive Guardian finally came into clearer view.
"It looks incredibly sturdy."
Its size and height were impressive, but Oien seemed most struck by the wall's formidable defensiveness.
"I'd only heard rumors, but seeing it in person is even more impressive."
"They say it wasn't made to fight humans."
"Built during the Descent War to stop the Demon King, apparently. Though that's just what Sion's country bumpkins claim."
As Aeron chuckled, Oien shook his head.
"You're wrong. That place was clearly built to face something other than humans."
Whether it was truly the Demon King, he couldn't say, but it wasn't for war against humans.
The walls were far too tall and thick for that.
"It'd be far more efficient to redirect the budget for such a massive fortress elsewhere."
Moreover, its location supported Oien's thinking.
Sion, the northernmost nation on the continent.
And Massive Guardian was at its farthest edge.
No humans lived beyond it.
Yet Massive Guardian faced north.
"But..."
Aeron opened his mouth with an unconvinced look, but Oien cut him off.
"Dismissing Sion isn't wise. The continent calls them bumpkins and scoffs, but their strength is no less than ours."
Immense auras emanated from Massive Guardian.
Killing intent, fighting spirit, battle fervor, and ambition.
For such energies to reach this far, they couldn't be weak.
"Tell the soldiers to stay alert—no reckless actions."
"Understood."
As Aeron turned to relay Oien's orders, something caught their eye.
Someone was approaching from Massive Guardian in the distance.
"Someone's coming out."
"Hm?"
Oien noticed it late and his eyes widened.
"What is...?"
It looked like walking, but the speed was astonishing.
As if folding space to run, drawing closer with every blink.
A person approached in a long black coat utterly at odds with the weather, a single sword dangling at their side.
It was Seo Woo-jin.