Chapter 295
Chapter 295
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 295
Chapter Title: Suspicious Records
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“295화.”
“I couldn’t find anything definitive.”
Johan said.
“All I uncovered were records stating that the heroes who triumphed in the Descent War all returned to their homelands.”
It was the same information everyone already knew.
As if they’d made a pact or something.
“…Not a single one stayed behind?”
The heroes certainly had the option to remain in this world after winning the Descent War.
Hadn’t Woojin received the same offer himself?
He’d even heard there were heroes who had already decided to stay.
“Not a single one. They all chose to go back, or so the records say.”
Seven prior summonings had taken place.
The fact that not one person from any of those chose to stay felt a bit off.
But Johan looked unperturbed, like it was no big deal.
“They were few in number. It’s not that strange.”
“Ah… right.”
This summoning was the exception.
A whopping one hundred people had been called forth.
But in the past, they’d never exceeded ten, even at most.
Sometimes as few as two, he’d said?
Even adding up everyone from all seven summonings wouldn’t reach the toes of this group’s numbers.
“The fewer people who stay together, the higher the odds everyone chooses to leave.”
“That makes sense why there wouldn’t be any.”
Woojin nodded.
So they’d all gone back?
“But it does feel a bit suspicious.”
At that moment, Johan continued.
“It’s too contrived. ‘After the Descent War ended, the hero returned home.’ Every record stops right there.”
“Well, there wouldn’t be much else to say…”
“Isn’t it odd that there’s not even a single line of mention?”
Woojin furrowed his brow.
“No praise for the heroes who saved this world, no tales of their deeds.”
The only remnants were things like ‘Karaniel’ or ‘Luden Gardo.’
No names, ages, or genders of the heroes.
Nothing at all.
“It doesn’t feel like they just had nothing to write. It’s like it was deliberately erased.”
Johan’s expression grew grave.
He hadn’t harbored a shred of doubt until meeting Woojin.
But the deeper he dug, the more unnatural it all seemed.
The complete absence of records about the heroes was reason enough to suspect foul play.
“So…?”
“As I said, nothing definitive. But I can’t rule out the possibility you mentioned before, Woojin.”
Kill the dog once the hunt is done.
The heroes might truly have ended up as those expendable hounds.
Woojin’s eyes narrowed.
He’d hoped otherwise, but it seemed his suspicions were confirmed.
Still, as Johan said, nothing was certain yet.
“Dig a little deeper. This is crucial information.”
Woojin’s strategy would change depending on how this world treated its heroes.
He needed certainty.
“I’ll do my best.”
This time, no firm promise.
He knew full well how daunting this task was.
The heroes had been utterly wiped from history.
Uncovering that would require more than an information guild—even a nation’s resources might fall short.
That was why Woojin had to settle for Johan’s pledge to try.
‘Still, I need to prepare.’
He didn’t know how yet, but getting ready in advance would prevent a knife in the back.
“Then I should head out.”
Unlike when he arrived, Woojin rose with a heavier air.
“I’ll relay any news the moment I have it. I’ve planted someone inside Massive Guardian, so it won’t be hard.”
Woojin let out a hollow chuckle at that.
Guild members even in Massive Guardian, the continent’s northernmost outpost.
He nodded, genuinely impressed.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Woojin thanked him and handed over a ring.
“Hm? What’s this?”
“A gift. Picked it up in Aier.”
Johan’s eyes widened.
“No way—from the report…?”
Woojin smiled in lieu of an answer and turned to slip out of the building.
Johan was too busy examining the ring in his hand to see him off.
“Heh heh—”
Johan chuckled dryly.
The gift from Woojin was anything but ordinary.
“‘Arielia’s Grace,’ huh.”
A sacred relic—one of Aier’s most renowned—that granted immunity to all diseases and long life just by wearing it.
To hand over something like this so casually as a “gift.”
Johan gazed in the direction Woojin had vanished, his face filled with gratitude.
* * *
“With that, he won’t slack off from illness.”
Stepping outside, Woojin smiled in satisfaction.
There was one reason he’d given ‘Arielia’s Grace’ to Johan.
Don’t get sick—get to work.
‘It’s useless to heroes anyway.’
A hero’s body, transcending human limits, was immune to any disease.
No matter how potent the relic, it was pointless for them.
Gifting something useless while taking credit—perfect for Woojin.
“Wonder where that guy’s at.”
Woojin spread his energy sense.
He was searching for Diarocr.
Fortunately, a powerful surge of mana wasn’t far off.
“Hm…”
Should he just leave him?
As Woojin pondered in place,
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue.
The mana had suddenly shifted, heading straight for him.
“Sharp as ever.”
Just as he’d detected Diarocr, the mage must have been tracking his energy.
“Well, no helping it.”
Even if he ditched him here, Diarocr would track him all the way to Massive Guardian.
And true to form, he’d throw a tantrum.
Better to bring him along— at least he could rein him in somewhat.
“Without the Descent War…”
“What about the Descent War?”
Diarocr had arrived beside him before he knew it.
“Nothing.”
Woojin averted his gaze and turned away.
“What’s up?”
Diarocr pressed from behind, but Woojin ignored him.
“Tell me. A mage goes mad without answers to his curiosities…”
He tuned out the words and quickened his pace.
‘Let’s hurry.’
He couldn’t sprint full-out with Diarocr, but moving fast, they could reach Massive Guardian by nightfall.
Thinking of seeing his comrades lightened Woojin’s steps.
“Answer me!”
Diarocr’s voice didn’t stop for a single second until they arrived at Massive Guardian.
* * *
Banslane noticed the energies first.
Mid-laugh at the joy of drilling the heroes, he sensed two massive presences approaching.
“Hm?”
He turned, focusing his senses.
The heroes around him groaned pleas for rest, but he had no time for that.
‘Beyond the extreme. One’s a mage, the other…’
Sizing them up, Banslane smiled faintly.
‘He’s here.’
An all-too-familiar energy.
It had to be Woojin’s—the one they’d all been awaiting amid their training.
‘But…’
It felt slightly different from before.
‘Heavens, he’s grown even more?’
Before leaving Massive Guardian, Woojin had trailed him by a fair margin.
Unavoidable.
No matter how fast the heroes grew, Banslane’s decades weren’t short.
Yet now, Woojin’s energy was nearly a match.
Astonishing speed.
‘Took down an Apostle, maybe?’
Nothing else explained such rapid gains.
Banslane masked his surprise and stood.
“Ease up now. Take a break.”
The heroes collapsed, gasping.
“Haa— haa—!”
Their throats felt raw from the ragged breaths.
To push heroes—who far surpassed humans—to this extent was astounding.
“Oh, done for today?”
Even amid this, Lee Ji-ah tossed out a question.
She stared at Banslane with desperate hope.
“Indeed. Seems we’ll wrap up for the day.”
“Ha, haha…”
She wanted to cheer, but only exhausted laughter escaped.
“Get up and tidy yourselves.”
Exhausted to the bone, they could barely twitch a finger—but Banslane’s word was law.
The heroes staggered up, brushing off sweat and dust.
In that brief time, their superhuman recovery had steadied them somewhat.
“Why end so early today?”
Training usually dragged to 2 or 3 a.m.
But now it was barely 4 p.m.
Dinner wasn’t even near—ending now didn’t compute.
Though of course, they were thrilled.
“Maybe a rare rest? Muscles grow more with recovery, after all.”
Goo Dong-hwan answered Kye Soo-ji’s question.
“That damn muscle talk.”
Lee Ji-ah shook her head in exasperation.
“What’s going on? Know anything, Da-hye?”
“No idea.”
Kye Soo-ji turned to Kim Da-hye, who predictably shook her head.
“Best to just ask!”
Fully recovered, Lee Ji-ah shot her hand up and yelled at Banslane.
“Why end so early? Something up?”
“Hey, hey!”
Goo Dong-hwan panicked, lunging to cover her mouth.
Asking might restart training.
But too late.
She’d asked, and Banslane had heard.
“Heh heh— that curious, is it?”
He countered with a kindly smile.
“Yes! Super curious!”
Dodging Goo Dong-hwan’s hand, Lee Ji-ah nodded vigorously.
Everyone wore doomed expressions.
Any second, Banslane might say they weren’t tired enough.
But his answer was something else entirely.
“The one you’ve all been waiting for is back. He’s just entered Massive Guardian. Sharing a day to catch up wouldn’t be bad, no?”
They blanked at first.
Then comprehension dawned.
“Uncle!”
Lee Ji-ah sprang up, and the others’ faces lit with joy.
Woojin had finally returned to Massive Guardian.