Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Graduation
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"Would you like to become a king?"
A single shocking remark echoed through the meeting room, stunning everyone present.
The guild masters who had been yelling at Heineken fell silent, their attention fixed on the conversation between the two men.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said."
Heineken flashed his signature smile, like a tiger baring its fangs. Deep wrinkles creased the thick, scar-ridden skin of his face.
"The Birn royal family has fallen to the Demon King's forces."
Gasps of shock rippled through the room.
Heineken calmly delivered the bombshell news.
"Twenty years ago, the coup that seized Birn—they were puppets of the Demon King's army."
"The Demon King took two Boss Monster Killers, along with the Holy King and Lion King they had trained, as a serious threat. No matter what, those Boss Monster Killers had to be eliminated early—they saw them as the greatest risk."
"But immediate assassination was impossible. The holy stones made that clear."
"Forget the legion commanders' access restrictions or the suppression of demon abilities—for them, the holy stones' barriers were a huge obstacle to gathering intelligence within the Alliance. Inside the barriers, the Demon King's communication methods using demonic energy became useless."
"So, for their grand scheme, they formed an independent espionage assassination unit operating from within the Alliance itself."
"Boldly enough, the entire kingdom of Birn was that unit."
"They spent decades on this, and finally succeeded in taking over Birn's royal family. The coup was just one of their tools."
"Birn was obsessively focused on intelligence gathering—which was all to detect the Boss Monster Killers early."
"The assassin who tried to kill you, Birn's Finance Minister—he was part of the Demon King's direct assassination unit, the strongest assassin in their current forces. He even survived the battle with Sir Enoch a full century ago. Though weakened by the holy stone, of course."
"The entire kingdom of Birn was a tool to assassinate you alone."
No one spoke until Heineken finished his tale. It was truly unbelievable... horrifying and shocking news.
An entire kingdom had fallen to the Demon King, all to kill just one man: Do-yoon. Neither cadets, instructors, nor guild masters could stay silent—this was a story straight out of a play.
But it wasn't a play. This was the grim reality facing the Alliance right now.
Heineken finished speaking and met Do-yoon's gaze.
'As expected.'
Calm. Surprised by the unexpected news, but not panicked. He was quickly accepting and analyzing the situation.
It was the composure of a mind as clear as a still mirror.
Heineken clenched his leather-gloved fist in excitement. His lips curled into a savage grin he couldn't suppress.
'This guy's the perfect fit for the grand plan I've dreamed of.'
Talent hunter Heineken was certain he'd come to the right place.
For his ideal vision, to rebuild fallen Birn. For the Alliance, the birth of a third king.
Do-yoon was more than qualified to be its foundation.
Do-yoon gathered his thoughts and looked at Heineken.
"...What's the purpose of bringing your army here?"
"We're staging a coup."
His full-body armor gleamed brilliantly. It looked like thick tiger hide, capable of blocking anything.
"We'll join forces with Skeletonia's reinforcements here, then march straight to Birn's capital."
"The fact that you, Hero, are leading an army—and the information revealed here—will reach them quickly. They'll try to block you at the border right away..."
"Block me?"
His spear blade emitted a chilling sharpness. Like a tiger's razor fang, it seemed ready to pierce anything.
"I am the Hero. Heineken."
For a moment, Do-yoon had forgotten what the title of Hero truly meant, as taught in class. He'd grown too comfortable with Heineken.
A Hero (Războinic) was the title bestowed on the strongest, bravest, most righteous person in a nation.
"No one in Birn."
A lone warrior who could turn the tide of battle, the only one capable of facing a legion commander—the Alliance's nightmare. Not just an individual, but a weapon of war itself.
"Can stand against me."
That was a Hero.
Heineken gave a wry smile and sneered.
"Birn is a nation of cowards. Well, countries a step back from the front lines tend to be like that. Worlds apart from the brave land of Muspelheim. If I tell them to open the gates, no one—not even the border lords—will dare stop me."
"We'll break straight through to the capital, leaving only the siege of the royal castle."
"I've already tampered with the castle gates. When we arrive, they'll swing wide open. Once those gates are open, nothing in Birn can overcome me and my guild's elite forces. No siege needed—the purge of the entire royal family ends tonight."
"..."
"Skeletonia's reinforcements and Senior's army advancing from the northwest are backups in case my plan fails and a siege begins. If all goes well, they won't even need to step in."
Do-yoon felt a chill at the man's meticulous precision. He was truly a seasoned hunter.
This was a hunt. Heineken was hunting Birn's royal family.
"What do you mean by asking me to become king?"
"I'm seizing this chance to realize the ideal I've always dreamed of in Birn."
Heineken puffed out his broad chest. His eyes sparkled with determination.
"The Holy King's nation, Labyrinth. The Lion King's nation, Muspelheim. The Alliance's superpowers, the only countries where the king holds the Hero title."
Ah. Sighs erupted from the room. Everyone except the cadets instantly grasped his intent.
"No way—you don't mean...!"
"That's exactly it."
Heineken grinned and looked at the speaker.
"I plan to place the next Hero candidate on Birn's throne."
Talent hunter Heineken eyed Do-yoon with greedy anticipation.
"Of course, I won't put you on the throne right away. No matter how much I like you, crowning a two-month-old otherworlder as king would be insane."
"True enough."
"I'll select a few talented kids as candidates and train them. The whole process will be transparently broadcast to the entire nation. The most perfect one among them becomes the next king—and Hero. The rest will serve as Birn's sharp swords, Heroes in their own right, protecting the king—not as Războinic descendants."
"And you want me as one of those candidates?"
"Yes. You'll train under me in the royal castle, building legitimacy along the way. I've already found and protected a distant royal branch family member—close enough to the throne for legitimacy, but far enough not to threaten it."
"My god. You've even scouted my marriage prospects already?"
"She's got huge breasts. You'll like her."
"Your junior obsession is getting out of hand."
"Hm... More hips than chest, maybe?"
He glanced at Sophie behind Do-yoon. She jumped at his words, her face flushing red as she bowed her head.
"Hmm... Our pick here might fall a bit short. Tricky."
Laughter rippled warmly through the room.
Suddenly, in front of instructors, fellow cadets, and Skeletonia's key figures, Sophie had been branded as Do-yoon's bride-to-be.
She fidgeted with her wide hips, her ears and face burning crimson.
"For their training, I'll seek help from various Hero seniors and juniors. Once they hear the plan, they won't treat it as just another country's issue—they'll support us fully. This concerns the whole Alliance."
Listeners marveled at his plan. Hero candidates systematically trained by multiple Heroes. A king selected through competition among them.
If it truly came to pass, Birn's future would be as solid as Labyrinth or Muspelheim.
"I'll rip out Birn's rotten heart and turn it into a superpower."
As he spoke of his ideal, he seemed flushed with the thrill of hope.
"But if you join, the other candidates won't stand a chance. No one's more qualified."
"You're getting good at flattery."
"Plus, you sly fox—you'd excel at politics too."
Do-yoon and Heineken chuckled. The tense atmosphere that had gripped the room had vanished completely.
Heineken's army, once suspected of invading the Cradle by force, was now seen as proud allies embarking on a righteous campaign for the greater good.
"That said, I won't be able to pay you much attention for a while. I'll be swamped. Just today, I have to behead the royals, announce the truth to the people, appoint a regent... My head's already killing me."
"You'll have your work cut out for you."
"But it'll be rewarding. For Birn and the Alliance."
Heineken extended his hand to Do-yoon.
"What do you say, Apostle Han Do-yoon?"
He met Do-yoon's eyes with utmost sincerity.
"Join me. Become Birn's Hero—and its king."
It was a historic moment. Everyone in the room focused on Do-yoon.
Ten thousand gold coins and a stable growth environment from the World Tree guild.
Or the glory of the third Hero King, following the Lion King and Holy King, guardian of the Alliance.
All held their breath, watching his choice.
Meanwhile, Eloa bit her lip in frustration.
'No...'
Without royal backing, Heineken's financial offer was weaker.
But the next-generation Hero slot and Hero King's glory were values beyond money—something a mere guild master like Eloa couldn't match.
Was she losing him just like this?
'I don't want that...'
She really didn't. She absolutely didn't want to let him go.
Eloa recalled the promise from a century ago.
The eve of the Great Demon King War, their final supper. There, the Hero had pinky-sworn with her: he'd come back, no matter what.
But he hadn't kept that promise.
He never returned. He never stroked her hair again. Not even after a hundred years.
'But... he did... surely...'
Eloa's throat trembled as she bowed her head, eyes brimming with tears.
Of course, projecting the Hero onto Apostle Han Do-yoon was foolish. It was just her delusion.
But... she didn't want to lose him. She didn't want to lose the lingering scent of the Hero she'd yearned for over a century. It was irrational selfishness, but that's how she felt.
She forced her head up. Tears welled in her eyes, ready to spill.
She had to say something. She had to hold him back.
She absolutely couldn't let him go again.
Fuming, she forced open her convulsing throat to keep him.
"I...!"
But.
"...Huh?"
"Mm..."
Heineken and Eloa groaned in unison.
Do-yoon picked up the pen and signed the World Tree contract.
The onlookers sighed, each for different reasons.
"May I ask why?"
Heineken asked Do-yoon, regret heavy in his eyes.
It wasn't a total loss. Do-yoon was just one candidate; if not him, another would take the throne. Heineken's dream would still come true.
Still, it stung. Do-yoon could have reached Hero status—and perhaps rivaled the Lion King or Holy King as an Alliance powerhouse.
The title of the Three Kings might not have been a dream then.
Do-yoon showed a hint of apology as he replied.
"Well..."
He looked into Eloa's large, moist eyes—full of unspoken emotion.
"I've already made a promise to the World Tree guild master."
Promise.
'Ah...'
Eloa's heart pounded wildly at his words.