Chapter 290
Chapter 290
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 290
Chapter Title: Awakening
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Diarok, upon opening his eyes, lay there blankly staring at the ceiling for a long while, unable to collect his thoughts.
It wasn't because he hadn't fully recovered yet.
Though he had suffered severe injuries, the Lennistant forces had mobilized everything to treat him, leaving no aftereffects.
Yet he still couldn't pull himself together. It was because the shock of his defeat at Seo Woojin's hands was that profound.
'...I lost?'
Diarok asked himself that question several times after regaining consciousness.
Was it perhaps a dream?
There was no way this body could lose to some hero he'd never even seen before.
It had to be a dream.
But the scars of defeat etched deeply into his mind and body told him it was real.
"Are you alright?"
A sudden voice snapped him back to his senses.
"...Bastian."
"It's Bastian. It seems you've fully recovered."
Seeing Bastian's wry smile, Diarok realized the truth.
"I lost."
"Yes."
"That hero named Seo Woojin?"
"Yes."
Bastian nodded calmly.
"I see."
He didn't even feel angry.
If his memories were accurate, he had been utterly overwhelmed by Seo Woojin and lost.
It wasn't even at a level where he felt wronged.
'Not only my magic, but even the martial arts I practiced on the side to exploit openings—everything was shattered.'
He had pushed back briefly at one point.
But that had lasted only a very short time.
Afterward, he had been pummeled for over an hour.
By then, emptiness overshadowed any rage.
"...Are you alright?"
Bastian asked again.
The first time had been about his physical recovery, but this was different.
He was worried that Diarok might suddenly leap up and cause a scene.
Given Diarok's personality, it wouldn't be surprising.
He could storm off right then to seek revenge, blasting magic wildly at Seo Woojin.
But unexpectedly, Diarok was calm.
"I'm fine."
He simply replied in a slightly subdued voice.
Moreover, he asked a perfectly normal question.
"What's the current status of the army? Did we suffer any losses?"
It was astonishing.
He never imagined Diarok would care about the soldiers...
And from his tone, it even sounded like genuine concern?
"We didn't lose a single man. They're currently preparing to withdraw while resting off the accumulated fatigue."
Bastian concealed his surprise and began reporting the events that had transpired while Diarok was unconscious.
"Hmm..."
After hearing everything, Diarok closed his eyes briefly, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Bastian looked slightly anxious.
He feared that when those eyes opened again, Diarok's usual personality might resurface.
But his concern proved unfounded once more.
"Bring that hero here. I need to meet him."
There was no hint of wanting to fight.
If anything, he seemed cautious.
Bastian tilted his head at the unexpected demeanor.
Still, he didn't let his guard down.
This could be a ploy to make him relax.
"Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. If you have something to say, tell me, and I'll relay it..."
"Bring him."
A chilling glint flashed in Diarok's eyes.
It was as if he were warning that repeating the request would not go unpunished.
Yet Bastian didn't budge.
Even as cold sweat trickled down his back, he stood firm, meeting Diarok's gaze.
"Impossible."
He tried refusing first.
No matter how mad Diarok was, Bastian believed he wouldn't dare harm the supreme commander of the Lennistant forces and a great noble.
"Haa-"
As expected, instead of hurling magic, Diarok sighed with a troubled expression.
"I know what you're worried about, but it's not like that. Just bring him."
His eyes were like a serene lake.
Gone was the usual madness or obsession.
That alone convinced Bastian that Diarok was thinking rationally.
Bastian hesitated.
Was it really okay to bring Seo Woojin?
He might seem calm now, but what if he lost it upon seeing Seo Woojin?
The possibility was not just likely—it was overflowing, leaving him no choice but to worry.
But he didn't need to deliberate further.
"Please."
It was because Diarok had uttered the word 'please.'
"...Understood."
If he was going that far, he probably wouldn't cause trouble.
The Diarok he knew would rather rampage than bend his pride.
"Thank you."
Bastian was startled once again.
"You're welcome."
Calming his inner shock, he stepped out the door.
To fetch Seo Woojin.
But he hadn't gone far before he had to stop.
"Wanna see me?"
Seo Woojin had been waiting outside the door.
"How did you get here?"
This was the treatment room for a duke of the kingdom, no less.
Not only soldiers but knights too were barred from approaching without permission.
Yet the very man who had done that to Diarok was standing right outside?
"I snuck in so there wouldn't be a fuss. Figured he'd look for me first thing upon waking, so I came ahead. All good?"
Seo Woojin replied with a grin.
His expression was disarmingly friendly, but it sent chills down Bastian's spine.
"...I see."
Bastian nodded, feigning composure.
"Come in. As you said, His Excellency the Duke is waiting."
Raising his vigilance, Bastian cautiously opened the door.
Diarok, who had been lying in bed, had propped himself up and was looking their way.
He had apparently already sensed Seo Woojin's presence.
"You look okay."
That was Seo Woojin's first remark upon seeing Diarok.
In an instant, his mana surged, whipping up the air around them.
"Y-Your Excellency!"
Startled, Bastian widened his eyes and rushed forward.
'Damn it!'
He inwardly regretted letting Seo Woojin in after all.
But soon, the rampaging mana began to subside.
"Huu-"
Diarok, face flushed red, took a deep breath.
It seemed suppressing his boiling rage and mana was quite taxing.
"I'm fine."
Diarok calmed the fidgeting Bastian, then looked at Seo Woojin.
"Good to see you again, hero."
"Yeah."
Their gazes locked, creating the illusion of sparks flying.
A suffocating tension hung in the air for a long moment.
Then, suddenly, Diarok spoke.
"We have things to discuss. Leave us."
"...Understood."
Bastian bit his lip and withdrew.
He wanted to shout refusal, but the atmosphere between them wasn't overtly hostile.
There was an odd discomfort, but no enmity.
Still, just in case, he decided to station knights outside as he slipped out the door.
"How's the body?"
Once alone, Seo Woojin asked as if he'd been waiting.
"As you can see. Not great."
That figured.
He had beaten him thoroughly on purpose.
Recovering fully in less than a day would have been the real surprise.
"Why'd you send for me?"
"Something I want to ask."
Diarok adjusted his posture, fixed Seo Woojin with a serious expression, and spoke.
"Was Holy King Mardetain truly an Apostle?"
Frankly, Diarok hadn't believed the story.
He'd told Bastian as much, dismissing it as a ploy by Ier to escape the situation.
But Seo Woojin's words and demeanor made him think his judgment might be slightly off.
"Definitely."
Seo Woojin nodded.
No hesitation, just pure conviction.
"...You say 'definitely' too easily. Do you have proof he was an Apostle?"
"I killed him myself."
Diarok's eyes bulged at Seo Woojin's response.
"I took down Mardetain in his Holy King guise and that beast Baron together. Well, Baron wouldn't die for anything, so I buried him underground."
"B-Barron?"
Diarok went from surprised to aghast.
Seo Woojin killing Mardetain was hard enough to believe, but handling Baron too?
"I can't believe it!"
Seo Woojin was strong.
He had toyed with him and even forced Yudain to flee.
But Baron was different.
He was special among the Apostles, alongside Xenonia and Ardethos.
"Believe it or not, up to you. Facts don't change."
Despite Diarok's vehement denial, Seo Woojin shrugged nonchalantly.
"That all you wanted to ask?"
His utter indifference only lent more credibility.
"...So the Holy King of the Holy Kingdom was really an Apostle..."
Amid his turmoil, Diarok barely clung to reason.
"If what you say is true, this is a big problem."
It was a massive incident ensnaring Ier, the Empire, and neighboring nations.
Had Seo Woojin not intervened, there would have been tens of thousands of casualties at minimum.
The kingdom called Ier might have vanished from the map.
The fact that Demon King's followers had orchestrated and executed such a plot made Diarok exceedingly cautious.
'Maybe even our kingdom...'
Suspicion crept in.
They had gone to such lengths to plant someone in Ier's core.
Considering holy power's opposition to demonic energy, it was nearly impossible.
Compared to Ier, other kingdoms would be far easier.
Diarok began to suspect that Demon King's followers—or even Apostles—might be hiding in Lennistant.
"Feeling uneasy?"
Seo Woojin asked.
His expression said he already knew.
"Those Demon King's followers—they're clever. Even with their plan foiled, they still have numbers left."
Distrust.
Unable to identify who was a follower, mutual suspicion could arise.
Between nations, between people.
That seed of doubt, growing bit by bit, would inevitably lead to division.
Diarok's face hardened as he grasped Seo Woojin's point.
He might act recklessly, obsessed with fire like a madman, but he was no fool.
If anything, he was wiser than most.
Otherwise, he couldn't have reached the transcendent realm as a mage.
His brilliant mind foresaw the unfolding scenario.
It was far from pretty.
"This is trouble."
Muttering with a rigid expression, he saw Seo Woojin nod and speak.
"That's why I recommend you head back and shore up your defenses first. There's no guarantee Lennistant won't end up like Ier."