Chapter 30. To the Northern Continent.
Two weeks had flown by. Just as word spread that the Demon King's forces, which had been lying low, were starting to stir again, Ganesha's hero team finally arrived at the great city of Nijersong.
The moment news broke of the princess hero's arrival, the other three heroes rushed to meet her.
"Hey, Kang Ji-hyuk—."
Ganesha still boasted her bulging muscles, exuding an imposing presence. Mahushu and Gunda froze involuntarily under the chilling aura that made their skin prickle.
"You've had a hard journey."
"Yeah, fucking exhausting. Shit, it felt like the road never ended."
"...And the other one...?"
"He'll show up later. ...Ah, there he is. Hey, fairy bitch, hurry up—!"
Fairy bitch? The fairy hero glanced at Ji-hyuk, her steps hesitating for just a split second before she continued walking toward them, footsteps crunching steadily. Her signature haughty expression hadn't changed a bit.
Ji-hyuk was inwardly surprised to see the unexpected face. He hadn't anticipated running into her like this.
Hero Elraim—.
"It's been a while."
"...It has, Hero Kang Ji-hyuk."
Ganesha's smirking grin faded slightly.
"What? You two know each other? Fuck, am I the only one out of the loop? Hey, fairy bitch, why didn't you say anything?"
"You never asked."
"Goddamn it, that's what having some tact means—tact! ...This is why fairies are such a pain."
Elraim seemed utterly unfazed by Ganesha's tantrum.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
Of course, the fairy's face showed not a shred of actual remorse.
Ganesha gave the fairy hero a quick once-over, then turned back to Ji-hyuk.
"So, what's the situation?"
"...We need to hurry. One small city has already gone silent for days. We assume it's fallen. And the Demon King's army is on the move again."
"Got it. ...Then we rest just one day tomorrow, and head out the day after. Sound good?"
Ganesha glanced at the other three in turn. They nodded and murmured their agreement.
The muscle woman then singled out Ji-hyuk. He followed her into her room and sat across from her at the table.
"Anything worth reporting?"
"We've confirmed at least three demons."
"Again?"
"I suspect there's a Demon Cult spy even here in Nijersong. ...But rooting them out seems nearly impossible."
"Hm."
Ganesha stroked her chin and nodded lightly.
"We should request reinforcements from the Count of Nijersong. Since it's happening in the Northern Continent, he'll cooperate willingly."
"Got it. I'll talk to him."
"Next up is catching the Demon King...."
The muscle woman stared intensely into Ji-hyuk's eyes.
"Only Your Highness and I can take on the Demon King directly."
"So, we team up?"
"While our comrades handle the demons from behind, the two of us combine forces on the Demon King. We can kill it without much trouble."
"Damn, you're awfully confident."
"A Demon King isn't immortal anyway. Beat it down enough, and it'll die. Brute force always wins in the end."
Puhahaha—.
Ganesha burst into loud laughter.
"Fuck, you're a riot."
"I wasn't trying to entertain."
"Still a cheeky bastard too."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Cheeky bastard, doesn't back down an inch. Fucking prick, goddamn asshole—.
Anyway, the muscle woman waved him off, saying she got the picture and to get out.
"Then we'll depart the day after tomorrow."
"Fuck, truth is, you just hate seeing me kick back, right?"
"With the continent in crisis right in front of us, how could a hero rest easy? Don't you agree?"
"...Fine. Get out already. Shit..., dealing with you drains the life outta me."
Ji-hyuk bowed politely and left the room. Ganesha glared at the door with a pout, then snorted derisively.
"Fucking prick, couldn't even pretend to be a little happy to see me. Asshole. ...Heroes are all such pains in the ass."
The muscle woman hopped onto the bed and flopped down. After constantly swallowing frigid air and sleeping on uncomfortable mats, this cozy, soft bed felt like heaven.
"...Fuck, maybe it's time I retire."
A long sigh escaped her. The princess soon drifted off to sleep.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Two days after Ganesha's team and Elraim's team arrived in Nijersong, early afternoon.
The count, who gladly accepted the request for reinforcements, dispatched three hundred soldiers and twenty knights. Thus, a subjugation force of about four hundred set out from the city.
Just four hundred soldiers might seem meager, but that number included five hero teams and a full knight order. With an S-rank hero and the equally formidable Hero Kang Ji-hyuk, they had more than enough power to clash with the Demon King's army.
Of course, the fact that this was the human realm, not the demon realm, played a big role too.
...If the destination had been the demon realm, they'd have needed at least a thousand soldiers and ten hero teams to even stand a chance.
The mood among the subjugation force marching toward the Demon King's army wasn't exactly upbeat. The very name "Demon King" carried immense weight.
Still, having a legendary S-rank hero along seemed to offer some comfort.
The long procession trudged through endless snowfields. Beyond the four hundred in the subjugation force, there were about a hundred porters and laborers too.
Ganesha, apparently unused to handling such a large group, seemed a bit clumsy at it. Ji-hyuk assisted meticulously and kindly from the side.
Perhaps earning some points that way, Ganesha always consulted him before making decisions. He offered reasonable advice in return.
Of course, he never crossed any lines just because she showed favor. Always polite, kind, and courteous.
...The princess thought Ji-hyuk grew more appealing the more she saw of him.
This guy's gonna go far.
It wasn't just raw power. He was cut from a different cloth than ordinary folk from the start. People naturally gravitated to his character.
Ji-hyuk's leadership was exceptional too, making him adept at commanding large groups of soldiers. The irresistible charisma beneath his gentle demeanor dominated the ranks.
A born leader. That phrase fit him perfectly.
If this subjugation succeeded, the continent's future would revolve around this Kang Ji-hyuk.
Ganesha was certain of it.
Ji-hyuk selected soldiers familiar with the Northern Continent's terrain and formed three small scout teams, sending them ahead to check the Demon King's army movements.
There was no time for elaborate strategies. Full frontal assault—.
He judged that splitting the army clumsily would only leave them vulnerable to being picked off. Better to drive straight to the heart and kill the Demon King in one go.
The soldiers spotted crow army scouts lurking in the distance. Ganesha flew into a rage, yelling to slaughter the bastards right then, but Ji-hyuk calmed her down.
"Chasing them would just waste stamina without catching any. Ignore them and keep marching."
"Fuck, if I catch those shits later, I'll skin 'em alive."
The muscle woman pondered the most agonizing ways to kill the worthless pricks, sharpening her blade of vengeance.
As time passed, the cold grew more brutal. This bone-chilling freeze pierced thick fur garments and gnawed relentlessly at their skin.
"Achoo—. Fuck..., never coming back to this shithole."
The bald brute, especially weak to cold, kept wiping his runny nose. The back of his thick fur glove was crusted white with frozen snot.
"Ass freezes when you piss with cheeks spread."
The mixed-blood suin dreaded the cold just as much.
...Actually, the whole team suffered in the vicious chill. Except for the orc Grendal.
He, who hailed from cold lands, claimed he could sleep naked in this weather. Orcs adapted well to nature, resilient to both heat and cold.
Proving it, he moved fine clad only in rags, no fur at all.
After trudging more than ten days through the ferocious cold, the subjugation force reached the mid-sized city of Rabro.
Baron Rabro came out beyond the inner castle walls to welcome them grandly. With the Demon King's army closing in, he'd been shitting bricks, so this timely rescue felt like manna from heaven.
The baron personally ushered the force into the castle, feeding them heartily and letting them rest warm.
After talking with Ganesha, the baron pledged an additional hundred soldiers and twenty knights.
Soon, the advance scout teams returned, reporting the Demon King's army's approximate position and numbers.
By rough count, five or six hundred. Mostly crow troops, with the rest demons and monsters.
"No big deal."
Ganesha nodded with a confident grin.
But Ji-hyuk didn't let his guard down. They wouldn't invade the empire so boldly with just that many.
They had to have something up their sleeve. Necromancy for sure—that was their specialty.
Assume at least a small city's worth of ghoul hordes.
"They've used necromancy. Expect thousands more ghouls on top. Factor that in."
"Ghoul hordes?"
Ghouls were weak monsters, but thousands couldn't be dismissed lightly. And their side had a Demon King.
It faced restrictions descending to the human realm, but still a terrifying existence no half-baked hero could touch.
"They're cunning. Steel yourselves for any scenario."
Ganesha nodded at Ji-hyuk's words, saying she understood.
Surprisingly, the muscle woman never dug in her heels—if his judgment seemed rational, she accepted it readily.
...Honestly, it was unexpected. He'd figured her rough talk meant a lone-wolf style, but she proved far wiser.
No need for exhausting persuasion, so things moved smoothly and swiftly.
Working together this time shifted their views of each other dramatically. Their relationship evolved beyond mere alliance.
She's way better than I thought. Stubborn in arm-wrestling, but flexible and rational on hero work.
Ji-hyuk now felt confident going all the way to the Great Demon King showdown with her.
"Asshole. You get shit done. ...Guess you don't need me anymore, huh."
"You're in your prime. Easily another ten years."
"Fuck off with that prime shit. Day after tomorrow, I'm turning forty. ...Time to prep for retirement."
Chosen as a hero at seventeen, nearly twenty years on the job. A whirlwind life with no dating, barely holding a man's hand.
...Not that she regretted lacking men, but she was curious what love felt like. Wanted to try that passionate romance everyone raved about.
...But prime time was long gone. Thirty-seven now. Grandkids soon—love? Fuck that frozen love.
Just retire at the right moment and spend her remaining days bitching twice as much to make up for it.
That was her plan. Ganesha made this her final expedition.
Not bad—capping her career by slaying a Demon King would etch her in imperial history forever.
"Alright. I'll take the Demon King's head. I said it clear."
Ji-hyuk chuckled dryly.
"...Whatever you want."
"Oh? Laughing? ...Fine, it's a bet, punk. Who takes the head. Loser serves the winner for life. Deal?"
"No thanks."
"Goddamn prick. I was speaking figuratively, you think I'd mean it? Huh? Fuck. Pump me up, when this big sis is finally in the mood."
"...Fine. One day."
That's right, she hooked him—.
Ganesha's eyes gleamed.
"Good, one full day as my slave? ...Asshole, you're fucked. Kehhehe."
The princess laughed, oblivious to the odds.