Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 16

It had been three weeks since the first hunt.

During that time, Choi Hyun-seok hunted with the cooks every day without rest.

Choi Hyun-seok, who had leveled up a whopping 22 levels on the first day, continued to grow rapidly.

“Haa… that was really tough.”

Of course, hunting wasn’t easy.

He had faced life-threatening situations dozens of times.

It was truly a hellish experience.

Choi Hyun-seok endured those times solely to survive.

And the result.

“Finally, level 100.”

Choi Hyun-seok was finally able to reach level 100.

With eyes filled with emotion, he opened his status window.

▫Name: Choi Hyun-seok

▫Title: Trainee Hero

▫Level: 100

·Strength: 54

·Agility: 51

·Stamina: 53

·Mana: 50

·Charisma: 26

·Bonus Points: 0

▫Hero Points: 200

▫Abilities: Pickaxing (C), Leadership (E), Cooking (F)

▫Skills: –

Overall, his stats had noticeably increased.

“It took longer than I thought…”

Choi Hyun-seok shook his head.

To be honest, he didn’t expect it to take three weeks to reach level 100.

He had gained over 20 levels just from fighting briefly on the first day.

By simple calculation, it was a level he could have reached in 5 days.

However, reality was not so forgiving.

The higher the level, the more exponentially the experience gain decreased.

Recently, it had become difficult to even raise a few levels a day.

“Haa, is there any other hero who levels up with this much hardship besides me?”

“What are you talking about? You’re having it easy, Hero.”

“What…?”

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

“I’m having it easy!?”

Just today, the forefoot of a mammoth-sized beast grazed his eyebrow.

If he had been a little slower to dodge, the forefoot would have grazed his head instead of his eyebrow.

“If that had happened, the cooks would be dancing and making boiled pork from my corpse right now! And you’re saying that’s easy? Huh!? Is that all you can say with that gaping mouth of yours!?”

“Ahem! After hearing that, I guess it’s not really easy… But it’s true that your growth rate is amazing, right?”

Choi Hyun-seok made a nonchalant expression at the mention of his fast growth rate.

“Is that so?”

“Of course! You’re already level 100 only three weeks after starting to hunt. That’s insane.”

The rate of leveling up varies greatly from person to person, so it’s hard to say exactly what the average level is.

However, it was clear that Choi Hyun-seok’s growth rate was beyond common sense.

“Usually, it takes at least half a year of diligent hunting for a hero to reach level 100, you know?”

“That’s somewhat comforting.”

Half a year to reach level 100.

Although he started leveling up late, Choi Hyun-seok had only been here for about two months.

So, as a result, it could be said that he was progressing at a very fast pace.

“Rachel, at this level, can I win in a duel?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure. In the first place, levels are only for heroes. It’s hard to say that it’s an absolute measure of strength.”

“Really? Then what was the level of the strongest hero ever?”

“The level of the strongest hero?”

“Yeah. If I knew that, I might get a sense of how strong I’ve become.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a moment, Rachel continued.

“As I recall, the last hero who challenged the Demon King was roughly over 2000.”

“Two thousand!?”

Choi Hyun-seok was surprised at the higher-than-expected level.

“That was the result of someone with exceptional talent working hard for over ten years.”

“Haa… still a long way to go.”

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re just getting started, Hero.”

It was when Rachel was comforting Choi Hyun-seok.

Suddenly, the door burst open and someone came in.

“Caretaker Choi Hyun-seok.”

The Demon King’s soldier who came in suddenly called out to Choi Hyun-seok.

Choi Hyun-seok, who was lying on Bobo’s back, jumped up and waited for the next words.

“The Corps Commander summons you.”

***

The Corps Commander of the Demon King’s 3rd Corps, Hemiss.

To Choi Hyun-seok, she was a high-ranking demon often referred to as the Lip Monster.

“Corps Commander, Choi Hyun-seok has arrived.”

“Come in.”

Her voice was still as beautiful as ever.

Choi Hyun-seok, who entered Hemiss’s office with the Demon King’s soldier who had guided him, swallowed hard.

‘Why did she suddenly call me?’

Her office, which he had visited after a long time, was no different from before.

The only furniture in the large space was a desk and chair for work.

Hemiss, sitting seductively on the desk as she had on the first day they met, opened her mouth.

“Welcome, Choi Hyun-seok. You look better than before. It seems you’ve adapted to the work to some extent?”

“All thanks to the grace of the Corps Commander!”

“Ohoho!”

Hemiss laughed at Choi Hyun-seok’s habitual flattery.

“I see. I heard you’ve been going hunting with the cooks every day?”

“Yes! I’m working hard every day to deliver fresh demon beast meat to Bobo!”

“Is that why? You’ve become quite strong since the first time we met. Your mana has more than doubled.”

Hemiss immediately recognized Choi Hyun-seok’s condition.

Choi Hyun-seok composed himself, inwardly surprised, and nodded.

“Yes. I have made some progress by hunting demon beasts.”

“I see. Still, your growth seems too fast. Is it thanks to the hero’s leveling up?”

“Yes! Thanks to leveling up, my stats…”

Choi Hyun-seok suddenly widened his eyes.

‘What did I just say…?’

Hero. Leveling up.

It was too obvious for Choi Hyun-seok.

But it was something that should never have come out of Hemiss’s mouth.

“Ohoho! Don’t make such a surprised face. I didn’t call you here to harm you. I knew you were a hero from the beginning.”

“Yes?”

She had noticed that he was a hero from the beginning.

Choi Hyun-seok, startled, asked without realizing it.

“How long do you think I’ve been fighting humans? This much is basic.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Ohoho! You don’t have to be sorry.”

Hemiss, who was letting out a pleasant laugh, suddenly became serious and muttered, ‘I actually found out because of that bitch.’

Choi Hyun-seok was momentarily puzzled.

‘Who is that bitch…?’

A being that Hemiss seemed to dislike just by thinking about.

Curiosity arose, but he had no choice but to quickly erase it from his mind.

“So. Why did I call you here today?”

“That’s…”

Choi Hyun-seok, desperately racking his brain, carefully opened his mouth.

“Is it because of Bobo’s training?”

Hemiss shook her head.

“Then is it because of my duel…?”

“Correct! You haven’t forgotten our promise, have you?”

There was no way he could forget.

Hemiss protects Choi Hyun-seok.

In return, Choi Hyun-seok must fight a duel every month with the opponent Hemiss designates.

If he loses the duel…

He didn’t even want to imagine what would unfold.

“Ah, if you happen to lose the duel, don’t even think about dying comfortably.”

“I guarantee you’ll know what it feels like to want to die to the marrow of your bones.”

Perhaps he would personally experience the meaning of what Hemiss had said before.

“Of course, I remember.”

“Good. About a week left, right? You have to fight and win against the Orc Kurken within that time.”

“Yes.”

“But you know…”

At that moment, Hemiss’s tongue licked her red lips.

“Aren’t you being too complacent?”

“Yes…?”

“I think you lack a little sense of urgency.”

Choi Hyun-seok felt his lips dry up.

“I am too ignorant to understand the Corps Commander’s insight.”

“I told you, right? I knew you were a hero from the beginning. Would I not know the hero’s absurd growth rate?”

“…”

Choi Hyun-seok bit his lip tightly.

“Choi Hyun-seok. I like you. You survived in ways I never expected, and you’re getting stronger quickly. You’re entertaining me in many ways. But you know…”

Hemiss got off the desk she was sitting on.

She slowly approached and brought her face close.

Her breath was close enough to touch Choi Hyun-seok’s ear.

“If this is all you’ve got, I’ll be disappointed… and you’ll die.”

Hemiss said in a whisper.

At the same time, a faint mana emanated from her body.

“Struggle a little more. For me. Got it?”

Choi Hyun-seok was dripping with cold sweat.

His whole body was soaked as if he had been rained on.

“I will keep it in mind…”

Choi Hyun-seok opened his mouth, trying to calm his trembling body as much as possible.

“I will keep it in mind, Corps Commander.”

***

After the interview with Hemiss.

Choi Hyun-seok, who returned to Bobo’s house, sighed.

“Hoo…”

The conversations he had with Hemiss quickly flashed through his mind.

“Hemiss knows I’m a hero. And she knows how fast a hero can grow.”

“That’s right.”

“But she gave me a month until the duel. Why?”

“Isn’t it because she wants you to get stronger and win the duel?”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded at Rachel’s words.

“That’s not entirely wrong either. I’m an interesting toy to Hemiss right now. She’ll want me to survive longer.”

“That’s a relief then!”

“No. It’s not a relief at all. It’s actually dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Do you know what the most interesting situation in sports is?”

Rachel tilted her head at Choi Hyun-seok’s sudden question.

“The most interesting situation?”

“Yeah. There are many, but I personally find it most enjoyable when a reversal occurs.”

Choi Hyun-seok was a professional mixed martial arts fighter.

But before being a professional fighter, he was also an avid fan of mixed martial arts.

“If you watch matches every day, there comes a point when you get tired of it. This is the same for any sport.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s predictable. The guy who always wins wins again. Of course, watching the star’s progress is enjoyable in itself… but there’s something even more interesting than that.”

“That’s the reversal?”

“Yeah. Unexpected developments. Underdogs. The birth of a new star.”

“Ah! I know what you mean.”

Rachel nods and says.

“So, you mean something fresh is more fun than something predictable?”

“In simple terms, yes.”

“But what does that have to do with the current situation?”

“I told you earlier? I’m an interesting toy to Hemiss.”

“Yes.”

“Then what do you think is the most interesting picture from Hemiss’s point of view?”

“That’s…”

Rachel made a surprised expression.

Choi Hyun-seok nodded.

“It’s me winning a game that I can’t help but lose. In other words.”

“She’s setting up a game where you can’t help but lose.”

“That’s right. From the beginning, Hemiss will force me into a fight that I can never win.”

Choi Hyun-seok was certain.

Because Hemiss herself said it.

“I told you, right? I knew you were a hero from the beginning. Would I not know the hero’s absurd growth rate?”

Hemiss gave him a month, even though she knew the hero’s growth rate.

Why?

The answer is simple.

From the beginning, she designated an opponent that he could never win against, even after growing for a month.

Nevertheless, Hemiss wants Choi Hyun-seok to win, paradoxically.

Only for fun.

The scene of Choi Hyun-seok breaking expectations and winning the game would give Hemiss the greatest pleasure.

“Thinking like this, all the pieces fit together.”

He felt like the questions he had been harboring were being resolved.

Why did they accept a human like himself so easily into the Demon King’s army?

Why, after accepting him, did they assign him to be Bobo’s caretaker, which was like a death sentence?

Why is she so interested in the actions of a mere human?

The answer to all these questions was visible.

“She just needed a new toy.”

A toy that doesn’t matter if it breaks at any time.

That was Choi Hyun-seok’s current position.

Choi Hyun-seok clenched his teeth.

“I can’t go on like this.”

“Then what do we do now?”

“First, I have to keep hunting and growing. But before that, there’s something I need to do.”

“What is it?”

“Gathering information.”

Choi Hyun-seok opened the Hero Shop.

“It’s not enough to just level up. I need to know what kind of guy the opponent, Kurken, is. How strong he is. What kind of techniques he uses.”

Choi Hyun-seok continued with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

“The most important thing to do before a game is to analyze the opponent. There’s also a saying that if you know yourself and know your enemy, you will win every battle, right?”

“Hero. You seem a little cool today.”

“Really?”

“Yes! For the first time, you seem like a smart person!”

“I wish you hadn’t said that…”

“So, Hero! How are you going to gather and analyze information?”

“I have something in mind.”

Choi Hyun-seok opened the Hero Shop.

Then he went to the ‘Items’ section and bought something.

“This is it.”

“What is this…?”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at the item Choi Hyun-seok bought.

“A combat power meter.”