Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Hero
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Heineken crouched in front of the assassin, prodding the bound man's cheek with his knuckles.
Heineken clicked his tongue.
"This guy's not gonna crack under torture."
Heineken suppressed a deep sigh in front of Do-yoon.
To him, this matter was actually a bigger issue than Do-yoon.
'This bastard was a high-ranking assassin in the Demon King's army...'
It was horrifying.
The Finance Minister was the second most powerful figure in Birn after the king. For such a man to have lived undercover as an assassin for decades.
The Birn Kingdom might already be in their hands.
'Maybe even the coup twenty years ago...'
Birn had undergone a coup twenty years prior, replacing the royal line. The new dynasty that emerged then still held power to this day.
And this Finance Minister was a founding hero of the coup government, appointed by the current king.
'...'
Heineken, the Hero of Birn, suddenly felt the pauldron on his shoulder grow heavy.
"Are assassin attacks on the Cradle common?"
"No. Not a single time."
The Cradle was the most vital institution in any nation. Its grounds were fortified with countless protective barriers and spells, and it even enjoyed independence from external authorities.
But this time, the Cradle's doors had opened unusually, leading to this mess.
Above all, demon army schemes unfolding right inside the city were exceedingly rare.
Because every nation had a 'Holy Stone' to suppress demons.
"You've learned about the Holy Stones, right?"
"Yes."
There wasn't much to learn. Holy Stones existed even in Do-yoon's era.
Holy Stones were artifacts bestowed by the gods of this world upon the Alliance, maintaining barriers over vast areas that suppressed demon abilities and entry.
Within a Holy Stone's range, demons' powers weakened dramatically, making it impossible for even Legion Commanders to set foot inside.
For a Legion Commander to enter and use their power, the Demon King side had to bear enormous losses.
Thus, Legion Commanders rarely appeared on the front lines historically. The Alliance was always on the defensive, fending off demon assaults.
"They must have been desperate with the emergence of a Boss Monster Killer. They sensed it from Hwang Bo-jun and Salamander. That they had to cut it off at the root early on, no matter the cost—the biggest obstacle to them."
Heineken turned to Do-yoon.
Indeed... it made sense. The Demon King's decision was utterly rational. The previous two Boss Monster Killers were threats enough, but Do-yoon was an even greater monster.
However, there had been a slight miscalculation. They had underestimated Do-yoon's level.
This assassin was strong. Even under the Holy Stone's suppression, that skill level meant he was among the highest ranks in the demon army. They'd sent their top operational assassin.
But if they'd known Do-yoon was that level, they would have mobilized a Legion Commander, no matter the strain.
It wasn't that they were foolish; Do-yoon was simply a freak beyond specifications.
Heineken swallowed hard. He forced a calm gaze forward again and tossed a casual remark over his shoulder to Do-yoon.
"Join our guild."
"..."
"I'll raise you as Birn's next Hero."
Heineken spoke calmly, but inside, he was utterly hooked on Do-yoon.
He wanted him. Desperately. As a Hero, Guild Master, and talent scout, he'd never seen such a promising prospect.
Though Heineken was far from retirement age, these were times of war. He figured he could die any moment.
The Lion King's nation had stalemated the front lines for ten years now. But such a stalemate wouldn't last forever.
'If I die in battle, Birn has no one to succeed as Hero.'
That's why Heineken coveted Do-yoon even more.
While the war's pace was relatively relaxed, he wanted to focus on raising the kid.
Such a monstrous talent, not wasted grinding for some minor guild's profit, but nurtured with a Hero's full backing?
He might even birth a legend surpassing the Lion King and Holy King.
"..."
Do-yoon held his tongue. His destination was already set. Still, he wouldn't forget Heineken's goodwill.
He seemed like a genuinely good man. Above all, Do-yoon could feel his pursuit of the Alliance's greater good over personal gain. And with that unexpected level of strength, he was reassuringly reliable.
If not for Eloa, he might have actually relied on him.
"I'll think about it."
"Tch."
Heineken clicked his tongue at the lukewarm response. What a prickly guy.
"Listen up, punk. You'll be a Hero soon enough, so pay attention. In this business, treating your seniors like that without proper respect..."
"You're bad at compliments."
"...You really wanna die?"
As the two bantered idly, the instructors and inspection team arrived.
Before assessing the situation, they were stunned by Do-yoon's condition.
"Oh god...!"
"My lord..."
Eloa and Sophie squeezed through the crowd, staring at Do-yoon.
"Ah, ah..."
Do-yoon winced at the sight of them.
They must have heard beforehand that he'd been attacked; Eloa's face was deathly pale. Seeing his state with their own eyes only deepened her pallor.
Sophie was worse. Tears welled up, her legs gave out, and she collapsed right there.
As a cadet, she was far less hardened to such scenes than Eloa or the others.
Even Debussy, who firmly believed Do-yoon wouldn't go down easily, hardened his expression at the sight.
Millein, World Tree's vice-guild master and its top healer, knelt swiftly beside Do-yoon.
"All healers on him! Any mages with enhancement spells too!"
Healer instructors and the inspection team's elite healers all swarmed in.
They laid Do-yoon down and checked his vitals.
"H-he's gonna go into hemorrhagic shock! He's lost too much blood!"
"Focus healing on the femoral artery first."
"He's blocking spilling organs with his arms. Align them before healing."
"Cadet, move your hands for a sec... damn."
"Inspection team! Find any fingers nearby!"
There was no time to move to the infirmary. His condition was too dire.
An emergency field surgery began. Identifying the assassin and piecing together events took a backseat. He was securely bound by Heineken anyway.
First, they had to save the Alliance's treasure.
"Is this... a finger?"
"A finger? It's so mangled, looks like ground meat..."
"Bring it quick, what are you waiting for!!"
"Yes, sir!"
The scene turned chaotic in an instant. Sophie approached on shaky legs and knelt beside Do-yoon.
Sniffling, she placed her hand over his. Fresh blood scabs transferred to her delicate skin.
"D-Do-yoon... pl-please... live..."
Her voice trembled violently.
"I'm fine. Don't cry, Sophie. I'm perfectly okay."
Do-yoon, his mouth torn wide, reassured her in a slurred voice. Each time he spoke, white muscle fibers, teeth, and tongue were visible through the wound.
Yet Do-yoon remained utterly composed. Even as healers manipulated his organs, his eyes didn't flicker.
Sophie burst into tears at the sight. His abnormal familiarity with pain—it looked so heartbreakingly natural. She couldn't hold back.
Poor guy. She sobbed uncontrollably at his side.
"Heart rate's way more stable than expected. No shock during treatment. Patient's responding remarkably well."
"His natural regeneration is insane. Skip reattaching the finger—let it regenerate."
Onlookers unanimously marveled.
How could he stay so calm with such gruesome wounds? Even the veteran Hero, Instructor Wangcho, might not manage that.
And Eloa's pupils shook once more at the sight.
'Just like...'
The shocking scene etched in her memory from childhood.
The Hero, smiling and waving as he led the march proudly. Ambushed by assassins lying in wait before the city, he returned to the guild house drenched in blood.
Bleeding profusely, the Hero had shouldered the wounded over both arms. Ignoring his own injuries, he tended to his comrades.
Indifferent to his own pain, a sight that wrenched hearts all the more. So accustomed to agony it seemed almost broken.
Do-yoon's demeanor now matched the Hero's perfectly.
"Hmm..."
Meanwhile, Heineken, perched on the Finance Minister's back, spoke up as he watched Do-yoon.
"By the way, how'd you figure out the Finance Minister was the assassin? I had no clue."
At his words, everyone turned to Heineken in shock.