Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Arrival at Massive Guardian
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“We’ve arrived without any major issues.”
Seowoojin nodded as he watched the Iyer army approaching Massive Guardian.
A whopping 120,000 strong.
Knights and soldiers stretched out endlessly, marching across the frozen wasteland.
‘Aren’t people going to freeze to death?’
He hadn’t fully accounted for the northern harshness.
The soldiers he’d seen in Massive Guardian were all accustomed to this cold.
Having only seen them, he’d assumed soldiers from other kingdoms would be fine too.
But returning to Massive Guardian made him realize his judgment was off.
The north had grown even colder, and these people weren’t used to it.
He should have considered that...
Seowoojin worried that his decision might cause Iyer’s soldiers to freeze en masse.
But contrary to his concerns, the Iyer army wasn’t suffering much.
Of course, fatigue from the long march was severe.
Thanks to Sion providing supplies and most conveniences, there were hardly any deaths from cold or starvation.
Unaware of this, Seowoojin approached them quickly out of needless worry.
‘Oyen, was it?’
He spotted the face of the man at the forefront.
A knight etched in Seowoojin’s memory.
He’d been afraid but not servile.
That’s why Seowoojin had entrusted him with leading the Iyer army.
Oyen wouldn’t pull the same nonsense as the previous commanders.
And that judgment was correct.
They’d arrived here without issue, after all.
Thud!
Seowoojin stopped right in front of Oyen, who stared at him in surprise.
“Who goes there! State your identity!”
At the same time, a paladin nearby drew his sword and shouted.
Clang!
The others did the same.
They formed a defensive formation around Oyen, wary of Seowoojin.
“Hmm...”
Not bad.
They couldn’t compare to Massive Guardian’s Blue Shield Knights, but they were still elite.
“I’m Seowoojin. One of the heroes.”
“A hero?”
“Did he just say Seowoojin...?”
The paladins began murmuring.
The name Seowoojin was firmly lodged in their memories.
“The one who murdered the ‘Saintess.’”
Oyen stepped forward and said.
The hero who’d provided the pretext for Iyer’s war.
Even knowing now that the war was the Holy King’s scheme, the paladins couldn’t shake their ill feelings toward Seowoojin.
The ‘Saintess’ had been deeply important to them too.
“‘Murder’ is a bit harsh to hear.”
Seowoojin frowned and continued.
“To be precise, I stopped the deranged ‘Saintess,’ didn’t I?”
Seong Yura had slaughtered knights and soldiers at the Empire’s academy.
Seowoojin had stopped her, and the result was her death.
Of course, other motives lurked beneath, but on the surface, that was the reason.
“...My apologies.”
Oyen readily admitted his mistake and apologized.
He turned to his subordinates and ordered.
“Sheathe your swords. He’s not our enemy.”
“But...”
The paladins understood logically but couldn’t accept it emotionally yet.
When Oyen stared at them sternly, though, they had no choice but to stand down.
“Thank you.”
Seowoojin smiled and bowed slightly to Oyen.
“It’s only right. Might I ask why a hero is here? As far as I know, all heroes returned to the academy.”
As he said, the heroes had returned to the academy after subjugating the Ancient Orc, taking time for personal recovery.
“Ah, not everyone did. Some chose growth over rest. We’re one of those groups.”
“We? Does that mean more heroes are here?”
“Including me, exactly ten are staying at Massive Guardian.”
Oyen’s eyes widened at Seowoojin’s answer.
He hadn’t expected that many.
“Understood. But...”
Oyen hesitated briefly before speaking.
“Why did you come all the way here yourself, Seowoojin-nim?”
He’d clearly pondered the honorific.
Seowoojin chuckled faintly at the “-nim” and shrugged.
“Saying it’s to greet you wouldn’t be believed. Honestly, I have something to discuss.”
“With me?”
Oyen tilted his head.
“Have we met before?”
He’d met Seowoojin not as the ‘Black Existence,’ but for the first time.
So why come to him specifically?
It wasn’t unreasonable for Oyen to be puzzled.
“Could we speak privately for a moment?”
He was asking the surrounding knights to step back.
“Impossible.”
Aeron, who’d been listening nearby, approached shaking his head.
“I know you don’t mean harm, but Sir Oyen is the army’s supreme commander. We must maintain full security.”
He claimed to trust Seowoojin, but suspicion lingered in his eyes.
After learning the Holy King was a Demon King follower, Aeron distrusted everything.
So he couldn’t trust Seowoojin, hero or not.
No, he seemed to doubt the hero claim itself.
“It’s something no one else should hear.”
Seowoojin turned to Aeron.
Yet Aeron wouldn’t budge.
“Sorry, but I can’t leave his side.”
His resolve to never let them be alone was clear.
Seowoojin sighed.
“Then minimize it.”
As if compromising maximally, Oyen nodded.
“Dismiss the knights. Just you stay.”
“Sir Oyen!”
Aeron shouted in shock.
“That’s not...!”
“Please.”
Oyen spoke calmly, making Aeron falter.
He hadn’t expected a request instead of an order.
After brief deliberation, Aeron had no choice but to comply.
At least he could stay to guard.
“Understood.”
Aeron answered, then ordered the surrounding knights back.
They looked reluctant but withdrew anyway.
“Is this sufficient?”
Once the paladins were distant, Oyen asked.
“It’ll do.”
They wouldn’t overhear now.
“So, what is it you wish to discuss? I can’t guess.”
Seowoojin’s expression changed at Oyen’s words.
No, it wasn’t just his expression.
The atmosphere shifted entirely.
An overwhelming pressure emanated from Seowoojin, utterly different from moments ago, bearing down on them.
“Gasp!”
Oyen inhaled sharply in surprise, and Aeron reached for his sword hilt.
“What is the meaning of...!”
“Quiet.”
Seowoojin silenced Aeron mid-shout.
Under the Chaos pressure, he couldn’t move lips or a single finger.
All he could do was glare wide-eyed at Seowoojin.
“What is this?”
Oyen regained his composure and asked gravely.
But he didn’t act rashly.
The aura from Seowoojin felt familiar.
‘No way?’
A terrifying energy forcibly etched into his body.
It resembled the unforgettable ‘Black Existence’ too closely.
“You’ve done well arriving safely this far.”
Even his speech had changed.
But Oyen couldn’t question it.
It felt so natural from Seowoojin.
“Could you be...?”
A hypothesis formed in his mind.
“Enough. No need to say it aloud.”
Not the answer he’d hoped for, but enough to satisfy his curiosity.
‘That’s why he wanted to speak alone!’
Oyen finally understood Seowoojin’s intent.
“Don’t ask how. Not many know this, so best not to tell others.”
Oyen nodded quickly at Seowoojin’s cold tone.
He’d learned the hard way what ignoring such words cost.
“Good.”
Seowoojin smiled in satisfaction.
“Now to the point.”
Seowoojin withdrew the Chaos pressure bearing down on them.
Aeron staggered, drained, but Seowoojin ignored it.
He fixed his gaze on Oyen and spoke.
“You must wonder why I sent you here.”
“...Yes.”
Why this barren north of all places?
He’d pondered endlessly on the march, but found no answer.
His curiosity had only grown.
“There’s a task for you.”
A lie.
Seowoojin had sent Oyen to Massive Guardian because there was nowhere else to ask.
But he couldn’t say that, so he racked his brain for a reason.
“What is it?”
Oyen looked uneasy.
Dragging them this far meant it couldn’t be simple.
“Guard Massive Guardian with the soldiers here.”
“...Pardon?”
Oyen doubted his ears.
No way he’d moved 120,000 troops for something so minor.
But Seowoojin repeated casually.
“Guard Massive Guardian.”
“From what? Monsters? Demonic beasts? You mobilized this many for trash like that?”
Oyen demanded.
Seowoojin’s words were absurd.
“Kratos.”
But a different name emerged from Seowoojin’s lips.
“Kratos? What’s that? Some new Demon King?”
Oyen scoffed, but Seowoojin continued.
“Not a Demon King, but as dangerous to you. Kin of the Fourth Demon King.”
Oyen fell silent.
He’d snapped in anger, but the response was grave.
“Never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s not widely known. Sparse records make it legend to many. But it awoke recently. I confirmed it myself.”
He didn’t seem to be joking.
If true, such a being existed...
“Why not handle it yourself? That’d be far better than us fighting.”
“Of course, if circumstances allow. You’re insurance.”