Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Warp to Demon Realm Heldein
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#47
“More than I expected.”
Woojin looked around and clicked his tongue.
Hundreds of knights and soldiers were lined up without a single gap.
It felt like twice as many as during the last subjugation.
“We’re heading to the Demon Realm, after all. Even if it’s just the outskirts, Heldein isn’t a place to take lightly.”
Woojin nodded at Ailin’s words.
“True. It was the same up north.”
Recalling the subjugation at Massive Guardian, he didn’t think even this many were excessive.
“There’s also the mission to escort a hundred heroes.”
The purpose of this “class” was to give the heroes real combat experience.
But that didn’t mean they could let them fight with their lives on the line.
Losing even one by mistake would be far too great a loss.
Maximize real combat experience while eliminating risks.
That was what the knights and soldiers were for.
“I wonder if it’ll really count as experience that way.”
Woojin thought somewhat negatively.
He had grown by facing death countless times in the north.
But Ailin seemed to see it differently.
“It’s not a bad method. It’s easier to adapt if you build up step by step rather than overwhelming them from the start.”
“...That’s not something you should say.”
Who was it that tossed Woojin—who had just picked up a sword for the first time—straight in front of a monster?
“I protected you so you wouldn’t die, didn’t I?”
Ailin gave a faint smile.
‘True enough.’
Without her, he really would have died several times.
If she did for the heroes what she had done for him during the subjugation, this class might actually be quite helpful.
“As long as nothing weird happens again.”
“Hm?”
Ailin asked at Woojin’s mutter, but he shook his head.
“Nothing.”
No way another Gerald would show up.
With the empire pouring all its efforts into security and vigilance, it wouldn’t happen again.
“Ah, looks like we’re heading out now.”
Ailin pointed to one side.
There stood a massive gate.
“The gate’s glowing?”
As Woojin said, the gate’s entrance was emitting a bright light.
“It’s a warp gate.”
“We’re going through there?”
Woojin had imagined taking a train or carriage all the way to Demon Realm Heldein.
Those were the only modes of transport he’d experienced so far.
He’d hoped for spatial transfer magic in this fantasy world, but never having seen it, it hadn’t crossed his mind this time.
“It’s over a month’s journey to Demon Realm Heldein even by carriage. And there’s no train line connected, of course.”
He hadn’t realized it was that far.
Come to think of it, moving this many people by horse or carriage wouldn’t be easy.
‘Wonder if we’ll hit traffic?’
Woojin chuckled, imagining rush hour made of carriages.
Ailin glanced at him curiously before continuing.
“The empire’s warp gates are famous. You can reach anywhere within imperial territory.”
The empire boasted the largest landmass on the continent.
Without advanced transport like on Earth, warp gates were among the empire’s most vital facilities.
“Of course, they don’t activate them just anytime. They consume so much mana that they’re only used when absolutely necessary.”
Yet they’d activated one for the heroes’ class.
That alone showed how much support the empire was providing the heroes.
“They’re going in now.”
The warp gate activated, and the empire’s 1st Knight Division, the White Silver Knights, entered first.
They were probably securing a safe zone ahead.
Watching them vanish into the light reminded him of a movie scene from long ago.
“Back then, it was to another universe.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nah, nothing.”
It was pointless chatter, so Woojin shook his head and slowly stepped forward.
Only after all the knights and soldiers had entered did it become the heroes’ turn.
“This is wild.”
“First time trying spatial transfer for me too.”
“Come to think of it, I heard there’s a hero who uses spatial magic. A-rank, right?”
The heroes entered the gate with tense yet excited expressions at the novel experience.
“Past this is the Demon Realm, yeah?”
“That’s right. Be careful. Heldein is no less dangerous than the north.”
At Ailin’s words, Woojin heightened his tension and stepped through the gate.
Fwaaaah—!
‘Ugh!’
It felt like his body was being sucked in.
Then, immense mana pressed down on him.
‘...Damn!’
The pain was enough to make him curse involuntarily.
But it was brief.
Paat—!
“Hup!”
The crushing pressure lifted, and an unfamiliar sight unfolded before him.
A black forest.
Even with sunlight filtering through, Woojin felt the forest was oppressively dark.
‘This is Heldein?’
It suited the name Demon Realm perfectly.
“Huff— huff—!”
“Ugh, fuck. Nobody said it’d hurt this bad!”
“Motion sickness...”
Apparently, Woojin wasn’t the only one feeling the pain.
The heroes who’d gone ahead looked in rough shape.
“Sniff!”
Ailin was no exception.
True to her status as a Sion knight, she showed no disarray, but her face was deathly pale.
“You okay?”
Once he’d recovered somewhat, Woojin asked with concern.
“I-I’m fine.”
Judging by Ailin’s face, she hadn’t expected it to hurt this much either.
‘She’s impressive, though.’
Even heroes whose physical abilities far surpassed high-grade knights couldn’t keep their composure amid the pain.
Yet Ailin, merely a mid-grade knight, showed no change beyond her pallor.
‘Knights with years of training really are different.’
The White Silver Knights ahead were silently carrying out their duties, just like her.
“Please pay attention here.”
At that moment, a knight who appeared to be from the White Silver Knights stepped forward and addressed the heroes.
‘Who’s that?’
A knight Woojin didn’t recognize.
The middle-aged man in his forties looked exceptionally skilled at a glance.
Unlike the others forcing themselves to act normal, he seemed genuinely fine.
“I am Ronaine, the knight responsible for you here.”
He was a top-grade knight and the captain of the White Silver Knights.
Of course, the heroes couldn’t focus on his words at all.
The pain had been that intense.
Only Woojin and his elite friends were somewhat okay.
But Ronaine continued without minding.
His attitude was as if it didn’t matter if they listened or not.
“You will spend the next week here. Food, shelter, and combat for survival—all must be handled yourselves.”
It was a class combining real combat training with survival training.
“We will intervene only minimally.”
Meaning they’d only save heroes on the brink of death, nothing more.
At his grave words, even the writhing heroes began to focus bit by bit.
No matter how bad they felt, they couldn’t ignore words tied to survival.
“This is the outskirts of Demon Realm Heldein, but do not let your guard down. Monsters roam here, and occasionally even the Demon King’s followers appear.”
Ronaine began teaching precautions and survival essentials.
Woojin memorized every word without missing a syllable.
“Finally...”
Ronaine scanned the heroes.
Then continued.
“I recommend forming teams rather than going solo, whenever possible.”
This wasn’t just lip service.
Even with knight support, they couldn’t prevent every unforeseen event.
For survival, grouping up wasn’t optional—it was essential.
“Good luck, then.”
With that, Ronaine withdrew.
Silence fell around them.
This black forest, devoid even of common insect chirps, exuded an atmosphere that turned stillness into fear.
“Uh, what do we do?”
One hero broke the silence first, unable to endure it.
“Let’s, let’s make teams.”
“Yeah. That knight recommended it too.”
Perhaps to shake off fear, the heroes sprang into bustling action.
Those with prior ties.
Those they’d eyed before.
Those with useful classes.
They mingled, forming groups.
“Hmm...”
Amid it all, Woojin stood alone, surveying his surroundings.
‘Someone worth teaming up with.’
Ailin couldn’t join as she was nominally support.
That left just two.
Ji-ah and Da-hye.
‘Should I team with them?’
They had some rapport.
No, quite a bit, actually.
He’d sparred with them daily and taught them various things.
But spending a week here together felt dubious.
They were twenty-one-year-old girls, after all.
Living in the woods with an unrelated guy for a week would be uncomfortable.
With no one else he even greeted...
“Guess I’ll go solo.”
It wasn’t a big issue.
Demon Realm or not, Woojin was confident he could handle most dangers.
As long as no Gerald-level monster showed up...
“Yeah, solo it is. Since when did I hang with other heroes anyway?”
That’s when Woojin made up his mind.
“Ahh, Uncle! You’re going solo? Leaving us behind?”
A familiar voice came from behind.
There was only one person so talkative.
“Ji-ah.”
Woojin turned to see Lee Ji-ah staring with wide eyes, as expected.
“No way! We came to team with you, and you betray us? I never thought you’d do that!”
Honestly, it was unexpected.
He couldn’t fathom what about him made her approach so fearlessly.
But it didn’t feel bad.
Knowing people trusted him.
“And Uncle, I even brought others so you wouldn’t be bored!”
Come to think of it, it wasn’t just Ji-ah and Da-hye.
Yoo Hongseol from their old party was there, plus two guys he’d never met.
“Oh, hi.”
Yoo Hongseol and the men gave Woojin awkward greetings.
“Ah, yeah. Hi.”
Woojin laughed and returned the greeting, then looked at Ji-ah.
“Who’s betraying who?”
Woojin smiled.
“Looking forward to the next week.”