Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Hero
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Do-yoon paid full attention to the [History] class without practicing his mana circulation for once. The history lessons, which he'd thought would be useless, turned out to be surprisingly informative.
The class covered the era before Enoch's birth, but more than half of it focused on the time after.
"The Great Hero Enoch's full name was 'Enoch Războinic.' Doesn't that name sound familiar somewhere?"
The cadets tilted their heads.
"Războinic? His last name is Războinic?"
"Doesn't Războinic literally translate to 'hero'?"
"The hero's family name is hero? Enoch Hero?"
The cadets found the name a bit awkward.
According to what they'd learned in class, 'Războinic (hero)' was a title bestowed by each nation upon 'the strongest and most righteous adversary of the Demon King.'
'Războinic' originated from a frontier nation's word for 'hero' and had since spread across the entire continent, becoming one of the most familiar loanwords to everyone.
Generally, people didn't distinguish between Războinic and hero, using them interchangeably.
The instructor continued the story.
"The word 'Războinic' that we use today comes from Enoch Războinic."
Do-yoon squeezed his eyes shut. He could roughly guess what would come next. From here on, his face burned so hot that he felt like he couldn't listen anymore.
Instead, he pulled up the information for one of his innate traits: [First Războinic].
⚔ INNATE TRAIT ⚔ [First Războinic]
(Last names were the exclusive privilege of nobles. Your father was a lowly serf without a family name, and you were born as his son. But your father hoped his only son wouldn't feel downcast about being a worthless commoner like him. He wanted you to live bravely. So, along with your given name, he bestowed upon you the family name 'Războinic,' meaning 'brave person.' You became the bravest person on the continent as your father wished and saved the world. To honor your sacrifice, later generations called the bravest person in the nation 'hero (Războinic).' You are the first hero, the first Războinic. The etymology of the word Războinic speaks of the courage to challenge distant trials. And the unbreakable will even in the face of death. Your will grows stronger.) The first time Do-yoon saw this trait, he had no idea what it meant. But he soon learned through history class.
And with the burning embarrassment washing over him, he let out a sigh.
'Hoo...'
Being praised even after death was a good thing. Having nations award his family name to their strongest warriors was an immense honor.
But witnessing and hearing it firsthand made it unbearably embarrassing. Every time this happened, he intensely regretted having come back to life.
'...I can't listen to this lesson at all.'
He'd just block his ears and focus on mana circulation.
But then someone tossed out a topic that piqued Do-yoon's interest.
"Yes, you there with your hand up."
"Then, who is this nation's current hero?"
At that question, everyone looked at the instructor with eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Good question. It's exactly what we'll cover next class."
Clearing his throat as if it would be a long story, the instructor prepared his voice.
"Enoch's guild had many powerhouses. Among them were the three strongest in history, known as the Three Supremes: Great Hero Enoch, Fist Emperor Hecleus, and Sword Emperor Buske."
Do-yoon nodded. Those two certainly deserved the title.
"Even now, with the System boosting average combat power, no one has emerged who could rival them. Later generations called them the 'Generation of Heroes.'"
Do-yoon frowned.
'Should I just block my ears completely?'
What kind of cringeworthy 'Generation of Heroes' nonsense was this?
"And! While the lineages of the Great Hero and Fist Emperor ended in their time, Sword Emperor Buske's bloodline continues to this day!"
That's right. Do-yoon had single-mindedly pursued the Demon King without caring about posterity, ultimately vanishing from this world without a trace due to dimensional banishment. And Hecleus's brutish fist arts made it impossible for him to take disciples.
Among the three, only Buske had raised a disciple.
Suddenly, Do-yoon felt his nose tingle.
'Brudett. That guy must have cried a lot too.'
Buske had treated his disciple, Brudett, like a son.
The Sword Emperor had lived his entire life chasing only the path of the sword, valuing it more than his own life.
But Brudett was the one and only value that appeared in the Sword Emperor's life, surpassing even the path of the sword.
The final expedition to subjugate the Demon King. On the road to departure.
At the city gates, guild members led by Enoch's comrades gathered, along with the alliance's strongest elite forces.
The sky was dark, and a drizzling rain fell. Even so, crowds stretched to the horizon to see off the alliance's last hopes.
And right there in front of them, an unexpected argument broke out between master and disciple.
'I'm going too.'
'No, you can't.'
The Sword Emperor's philosophy of pursuing only the path of the sword extended even to his disciple Brudett. He too was someone who would risk his life for advancement in swordsmanship, just like his master.
Naturally, Brudett intended to join the Demon King subjugation expedition.
For a swordsman, the honor of slaying the Demon King was immense, and that historically worst battlefield was the perfect place for sword enlightenment.
And it aligned perfectly with the teachings of Sword Emperor Buske, who had pursued only the path of the sword, forsaking blood, tears, and emotions.
Everyone thought the Sword Emperor would allow his disciple to join. Brudett's skills were more than sufficient, after all.
But the Sword Emperor, who had always shown only a blade-like cold demeanor, revealed his hidden feelings on the day of departure.
'Stay behind.'
'No...!'
Brudett naturally rebelled.
Brudett couldn't understand his master's sudden change in attitude. Citing his master's usual teachings, he meticulously explained why he should join the expedition.
Even one more member would bolster the sorely needed elite forces. The completion of the sword through death. The honor of Demon King subjugation. Enlightenment amid bloody battle.
All of it was what Buske had drilled into his disciple endlessly.
But the gap in their opinions didn't narrow. Buske repeated the same words.
'Stay behind.'
'...Just this once, I'll defy your order, Master. I will definitely! The path of the sword...!'
Thud.
Buske placed his hand on his disciple's shoulder.
The disciple shut his mouth. He could say no more. The shadowed face of his master peering from under his robe was not the usual steadfast, cold one.
It was fragile and heartbreaking. His master, one of the alliance's strongest, looked so weak and sorrowful.
It was a sight he'd never seen before in his life.
The master murmured in a hoarse voice, low and soft.
'Stay behind.'
'It's too dangerous a journey.'
'I want you to live.'
'Since that day, I never thought of you as just a disciple.'
'You're my son. The one I love more than anyone... my son.'
'To me... your life is more precious than your path of the sword.'
'Forgive my selfishness.'
'I'm sorry. Your master, who doesn't respect your path of the sword.'
'Because... your life is far too precious...'
'If I return, I want to see you marry... have a child... and grow old.'
'I beg you. Stay behind. And... live long. This is your master's final wish.'
'My beloved... son.'
No one could speak. Shwaaa. Only the sound of rain filled the street.
The emperor of the sword, who had forsaken all including emotions to walk only the path of the sword. His confession was too earnest, too shocking.
'When this war ends and peace comes. I want to adopt you.'
'I have no family name due to my lowly birth... but if you're willing, I'd pass on 'Buske' as your surname.'
The disciple could no longer speak.
The Sword Emperor released his disciple and walked toward the group, step by step.
And so, the march to the Demon King subjugation battle began.
Though Brudett couldn't join that historic march, missing a step toward the sword.
He simply saw them off quietly. Watched his father's figure disappear beyond the horizon.
And the Sword Emperor never returned.
"..."
The Sword Emperor died en route, his body never recovered.
Many, including Enoch, perished. With the Demon King's annihilation and the war's end, the continent was filled with celebrations.
But the capital welcoming the heroes' survivors became a sea of tears. Too many had died. Too many hadn't returned.
Brudett must have wailed until his throat tore.
"..."
Do-yoon shook his head to dispel the thoughts. He suppressed the surging emotions and refocused on the class.
He could guess why the instructor brought it up.
Brudett was human. He couldn't still be alive after a hundred years.
But there was no way he'd let his master's lineage end. He'd probably founded a family or sect.
And the current head of that would be this nation's hero. After all, he'd inherited the Sword Emperor's swordsmanship.
But Do-yoon's prediction was completely off. His eyes widened at the instructor's next words.
"And! Gloriously, this nation's hero is the Sword Emperor's direct disciple!"
"Brudett Buske!"