Hero Conference (2)
"Ahem."
With everyone's eyes on him, Association President Allen cleared his throat lightly to begin.
"First off, I believe you all know why I've called you here."
"Yes, we've heard. The Hero King is retiring, and the rankings are being reestablished."
"Indeed. With that guy ascending to the Seven Powers, it's getting awkward for him to keep being a hero. So after discussing it among ourselves, we've decided he'll retire and pass the top spot to Muguk."
"I see."
"But where's the man himself?"
"Right! Isn't big brother coming?"
The Pilgrim and Baek-kyeong, who had been listening quietly to the president's words, voiced their doubts.
He was the pinnacle of the next generation of heroes—yet he wasn't showing up!
"Yeah, even those guys who never come showed up, so why isn't he here?"
"No matter how busy he is with Academy City, we're not exactly idle either."
"Muguk. Where?"
The surrounding rankers echoed the Pilgrim and Baek-kyeong's sentiments.
These were all big shots in their own right, so it was rare for every ranker to attend a meeting.
Yet this time, everyone except one had gathered—proof of how critical this conference was.
For Muguk to skip such an important meeting?
There must be some reason.
He has a reason he can't attend.
The sharp-minded Golden Duke and Gravekeeper fixed the president with cold, sunken gazes.
"That guy's not coming to this meeting."
"Huh? Why not!"
The Ice Snow Dragon King spat out her irritated words, and the president swallowed hard before answering.
"We sent the summons, but Muguk said he's tied up managing the city. He replied that since he can't attend, he'll fully abide by the association's decisions."
At that moment, Ellen and Frey's eyes met.
The two, who had been wearing strange expressions, soon spoke to the group as if nothing was amiss.
"Even without Muguk, we have more than a majority of rankers here, so the meeting can proceed without issue. We'll just inform him of the results."
"That's weird? Didn't we say this meeting has critical agenda items and attendance is mandatory?"
"Right, that's why I barely convinced my lord to let me come."
"Yes, we emphasized that with such important matters, all rankers must attend."
The Proxy's question drew a nod of confirmation from the president, leaving everyone but Frey exchanging puzzled looks.
"And yet Muguk didn't show…?"
"…There is something going on."
"What's he thinking?"
Those who suspected Muguk had been deliberately excluded now glared at the president with sharpened eyes.
"Enough."
But it was short-lived.
As Frey lightly released his aura, Heuk-kyeong and the Ice Snow Dragon King, who had been exuding faint killing intent, withdrew with uncomfortable expressions.
"Explanation. Needed."
"If it's not a convincing reason, we'll turn this upside down—got it?"
Heuk-kyeong and Baek-kyeong, who shared deep ties with Muguk, along with the Ice Snow Dragon King, glared murderously and growled fiercely.
In response, the president pulled a letter from his pocket.
"What's… this?"
"Strange. What is it?"
"This is a letter from the Rischel Kingdom."
To be precise, it was a missive from Rischel that had arrived at the association right after the Divine Spear's death.
The letter, wrapped in luxurious stationery, came with astonishing news and a request for high-rankers.
"I'm planning to send Muguk in response to Rischel's request."
"Muguk…?"
"To the Rischel Kingdom, no less?"
As questions rippled through the gazes around the table, the president set the letter down and continued his serious explanation.
"You all know about the Lukidus Kingdom incident, right?"
"Yes, the Devil of Death attacked the kingdom, wiping out outer villages, and even the Divine Spear fell in battle."
"Exactly. The Divine Spear stepped up to defend the kingdom but perished against the Devil of Death, shocking the continent."
From here on, it's classified.
The president paused there, staring at the letter before continuing.
"What's written there is the Divine Spear's last will."
Divine Spear's Final Testament
──!?
A massive shock rippled through the room.
Shock, astonishment, disbelief—every emotion flashed by in an instant. The first to recover was the Gravekeeper, who asked him directly.
"So the Divine Spear sent his last will to Rischel Kingdom?"
"Yes. According to the letter, the Devil of Death that attacked Lukidus is highly likely to target Rischel next."
"If that's true…"
"It's dangerous."
The president nodded at the Pilgrim's words.
Rischel Kingdom was an island nation surrounded by sea on all sides.
The girl king's island had repelled countless invaders before, but even she and her Round Table Knights would struggle against a Four Heavenly King.
Especially the Devil of Death, ranked second among them—the odds plummeted.
The girl king was one of the Seven Powers called the Divine Sword, but the Devil of Death was a monster who held the advantage even against such powers.
"Even if the girl king repels it successfully, she'll suffer massive losses."
But the rankers listening realized the president's view was subjective.
I heard the Devil of Death didn't go all out against the Divine Spear.
He killed the Divine Spear that easily—can the Divine Sword, just two ranks below, really beat him?
Weighing the girl king's achievements against the Devil of Death's atrocities, the rankers favored the devil.
Objectively, he seemed stronger.
Of course, it was just heroes' speculation—actual combat could yield different results. But Rischel sending this letter meant it wasn't to be taken lightly.
"Our association's investigation concludes that stopping the Devil of Death requires at least two from the Seven Powers."
"Seven Powers?"
"Yes. The girl king has her Round Table Knights, but we judged they're insufficient alone. She must think the same, hence this request for reinforcements."
"Then we need top rankers."
"Right. Not quite Seven Powers level, but close."
"But the association doesn't have anyone like that…"
Gazes simultaneously turned to Frey and Heuk-kyeong.
They were the top two in raw power alongside Muguk.
The Hero King, now ranked first and in the Seven Powers, went without saying, and Heuk-kyeong was deemed Muguk's equal in one-on-one combat—the association's strongest.
Of course, there were standouts like the annihilation-specialized Ice Snow Dragon King or Baek-kyeong, or the terrain-dominant Gravekeeper.
But against a transcendent like a Four Heavenly King, they fell a bit short.
To hold off the Devil of Death in the girl king's stead, you needed someone on her level.
At any rate, it was the consensus of veteran heroes with countless battles under their belts.
Thus, Frey and Heuk-kyeong, drawing the stares, spoke up.
"Sorry, but I'm out. If I don't hold the Liam Kingdom defense line, no one can stop the War Devil."
"Same. Crim. Conquest."
As the association's powerhouses, each guarded a sector.
Frey defended the (former) Liam Kingdom territory against the War Devil, while Heuk-kyeong and Baek-kyeong pioneered the (former) Crim Kingdom lands, clashing with demons over territory.
Especially Crim, with intel on the Fear Devil sighted—no way to pull rankers now.
"I see, so Muguk…"
"Yes, with those two unavailable, he's the perfect fit."
"The undisputed one-on-one king wouldn't go down easy even to the Devil of Death."
"Not a bad pick. I'm in favor."
"Still, deciding something this big without the man himself…"
"It's fine. He entrusted everything to the president."
Indeed, a letter with Muguk's signature and seal sat safely in the president's drawer.
Meant as acknowledgment of the new number one and the fresh ninth ranker, but oh well.
The guy had dumped it all on the president and holed up in Academy City.
"Muguk might object."
"Hmph, doesn't matter. It'll be too late by then."
.
.
.
Frey thought back.
To the shrine maiden's words right after he'd joined the Seven Powers, when he'd gone to check the Power Stone.
{The Power Stone is, at its core, a miraculous stone inscribed with the goddess's authority.}
{Individual strength matters, of course, but what's far more crucial is the power to confront the Demon King. In fact, the Holy God is specialized in support over raw force.}
{So for the stone to choose you over Muguk means, in subjugating the Demon King, your value surpasses his.}
Recalling the shrine maiden's unwavering response, Frey reflected.
The goddess was wrong.
That he would be more helpful in tackling the Demon King?
Was that guy really worth so little?
No way.
As his self-proclaimed rival, he could say it with certainty.
If Muguk joined the Demon King subjugation, he'd outshine any Power.
That's why Frey had schemed this.
With the president's help, he'd tricked Muguk and secured the other rankers' backing to ship him off to Rischel.
If he didn't catch the goddess's eye, it's simply because his feats weren't enough.
The power to fell a Four Heavenly King and subjugate the Demon King.
Once Muguk fully demonstrated his strength, he'd surely claim a Power seat.
Honestly, it was baffling if the goddess couldn't gauge personal might—but otherwise, how had he ascended first?
So he'd set the stage.
To let Muguk shine.
To awaken the crouching dragon of Academy City, this much was necessary.
A Four Heavenly King is the perfect stage for him to perform.
He didn't think Muguk would lose to one.
He knew the guy's power best, having clashed repeatedly.
Someone like him wouldn't fall easily to the Devil of Death.
Plus, the other Power, the girl king, was there—no need to even consider defeat.
"Then, reinforcements to Rischel: Muguk. Any objections?"
"In favor."
"Mm… I'd love to go myself, but no choice. No better candidate. I'm in!"
"No other options. In favor."
In the end, unanimous ranker approval sent Muguk to Rischel.
Of course, utterly ignoring the man's own stance…
"Good, Rischel's settled—the biggest issue. Next, announcing the new ninth rank."
The hero conference without Muguk proceeded smoothly to the next item, unopposed.
And a week later.
"Wh-what the…?"
Muguk—no, Yeon Je-seong's dispatch to Rischel was decided.