Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 28

Abelson Marriott.

The next Saintess of the Holy Empire of Gatrein was now Choi Hyun-seok’s personal healer.

It was unavoidable.

Abelson was the only one who could heal Choi Hyun-seok here.

Thanks to this, she was able to observe Choi Hyun-seok’s training closely.

“Kuhuk!”

“Uweeck!”

Choi Hyun-seok was getting beaten to a pulp.

It was routine for him to vomit blood, and he crossed the threshold of death several times a day.

Each time, Abelson healed Choi Hyun-seok.

As the next Saintess, her healing power was among the best on the continent, so there were no problems.

“Um…”

What was interesting was Choi Hyun-seok’s reaction.

Even as he was dying, he kept talking whenever he received treatment.

“I apologize for last time…” “I’m Choi Hyun-seok…” “What’s your name…?” “Is your hair naturally silver…? It’s not dyed, is it…?” “Do you like taking walks…?” “You’re really beautiful… Do you hear that often…?”

Even while being beaten half to death by Raidrun, Choi Hyun-seok was spouting nonsense.

Abelson initially ignored him but eventually surrendered to his persistence.

“Abelson Marriott.”

“Yes. It’s naturally silver.”

“I like taking walks.”

“You’re so pathetic.”

She didn’t treat Choi Hyun-seok kindly.

She gave short answers and sometimes said things that could hurt him.

Yet, Choi Hyun-seok didn’t change.

He smiled foolishly as if he was happy, received treatment, and then went back to get beaten up again.

Soon, he would come back battered and bruised, spouting nonsense.

Time passed like that, and three days later.

It was the night before the duel.

“Um… Abelson.”

After training, before returning to their rooms, Choi Hyun-seok spoke to her.

“As you know, I have an important fight tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask you for a favor?”

Abelson’s expression hardened at the word ‘favor’.

She remembered Choi Hyun-seok suddenly asking her for a kiss during their first meeting.

Realizing his mistake upon seeing her expression, Choi Hyun-seok waved his arms in embarrassment.

“Ah! It’s not about a kiss or anything like that!”

“Then what is it…?”

“Could you pray to that god of yours just once?”

“Pray?”

“Yes. Just a simple prayer.”

Choi Hyun-seok smiled and continued.

“I’m not going to resent him for sending me to the Demon King’s army as this fake hero now…”

“…”

“Just ask him to let me survive tomorrow without dying. Please make sure to pass that on.”

Why was it?

Choi Hyun-seok’s smiling face looked so pathetic.

Abelson had no choice but to say she would.

“Is that all you wanted to say?” “Ah! There’s one more thing, but… I’ll tell you after the duel tomorrow. Haha!”

Choi Hyun-seok’s face was flushed for some reason, and he laughed awkwardly.

“Okay.”

“Um! If it’s okay with you, would you come to watch tomorrow…?” “…I’ll think about it.”

Abelson had no choice but to give a vague answer.

She was a prisoner of war.

She couldn’t just move around as she pleased, even if she wanted to.

“Yes! Then please go in carefully.”

Choi Hyun-seok turned around coolly, as if that answer was enough.

Watching Choi Hyun-seok’s retreating figure, Abelson was lost in thought.

‘A prayer… how long has it been?’

It had been a very long time since she had prayed to God.

“…”

After a moment of contemplation, Abelson turned her steps.

For a moment, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘A promise is a promise.’

Saying a prayer wasn’t that difficult.

Returning to her room, Abelson knelt down and clasped her hands together.

Hoping that the God she was calling after so long would respond.

***

The next morning.

The day of the decisive battle dawned.

“Aigo… my whole body aches.”

Choi Hyun-seok frowned and patted his body.

He was battered and bruised from the harsh training, and there wasn’t a place that didn’t hurt.

‘But I’m not nervous.’

Surprisingly, his mind was calm.

His condition wasn’t bad either.

The aching body was proof of the hard training.

In other words, it meant he had become stronger.

Filled with confidence, Choi Hyun-seok checked his status window.

“Let’s see…”

▫ Name: Choi Hyun-seok

▫ Title: Aspiring Hero

▫ Level: 200

· Strength: 80

· Agility: 77

· Stamina: 81

· Magic Power: 80

· Charisma: 27

· Bonus Points: 0

▫ Hero Points: 450

▫ Skills: Pickaxing (C), Leadership (E), Cooking (F), Magic Power Manipulation (F) ▫ Skills: Raidrun-style Fighting Technique

The status window hadn’t changed much from before.

The level was the same as before, 200.

Thanks to the harsh training, only his magic power and stamina had increased slightly.

Nevertheless, Choi Hyun-seok was confident that he had become stronger than before.

The decisive change was in aspects outside of his stats.

‘Magic Power Manipulation and Raidrun-style Fighting Technique. With these, I’ve become stronger than before.’

Magic Power Manipulation was, as the name suggested, a technique to utilize magic power.

It was the most basic technique to strengthen the body with magic power and exert greater force.

It was essential for exerting superhuman strength.

‘And Raidrun-style Fighting Technique…’

It was the first skill he had obtained thanks to Raidrun’s guidance.

This was truly a secret technique.

Choi Hyun-seok checked the detailed explanation of Raidrun-style Fighting Technique.

□ Raidrun-style Fighting Technique

‧ Proficiency: 8%

‧ Description: A dynamic fighting style consisting of 10 forms (形) [kata, or specific choreographed patterns of movements].

‧ Background: A fighting style that Raidrun modified based on the Cowden clan’s fighting style, ‘Cowden Fighting Technique’. It seeks to subdue opponents with strong power.

Choi Hyun-seok read the explanation once again and nodded in satisfaction.

‘The proficiency is still low, but it’s okay.’

Ultimately, what mattered was that he had learned a fighting style and could use it.

It was when Choi Hyun-seok was contemplating when he should use the fighting style.

“Hek, hek!”

Bobo approached and rubbed his head against him.

Choi Hyun-seok smiled contentedly at the affection.

“You rascal. Do you know it’s an important day too?”

“Kwang!”

“Alright, alright. Your brother will go and smash them up.”

Bobo barked loudly as if he was telling him to cheer up.

Choi Hyun-seok stroked Bobo’s head and stood up.

“The preparations are complete.”

He would never lose.

A blonde noble lady.

No, a silver-haired saintess was within reach.

‘If I win this time, I’m going to ask her out on a date.’

Taking a walk through the vast black fortress with the next Saintess, Abelson.

The thought alone made him happy.

“Let’s go! For love!” His motivation was 200% charged.

***

There were no ranks in the Demon King’s army.

There were only positions.

So, the Demon King’s army could only be divided into two categories.

Regular soldiers and commanders.

The method of determining commanders was the ‘Commander Determination Battle’.

The way to conduct the Commander Determination Battle was simple.

You apply for a duel with the opponent you want, and if you win, you take that position.

It was very crude, as befitting the Demon King’s army, but it was a sure method.

“A human is doing a Commander Determination Battle! Hilarious! Kkahaha!” “Kik! Orc Kurken! If he loses, I’ll have to take the squad leader position!”

The large training ground located within the 3rd Corps.

Over thousands of Demon King’s soldiers were gathered here.

Not only regular soldiers but even high-ranking commanders were present.

The reason was Corps Commander Hemis.

She had extensively promoted the Commander Determination Battle between the human Choi Hyun-seok and the Orc Kurken.

A human becoming a commander in the Demon King’s army.

That alone aroused the interest of many, and they gathered like clouds.

“That’s the rumored Choi Hyun-seok.” “The human that the Corps Commander dotes on?” “Dotes on? It’s just a source of amusement for the Corps Commander.”

A platform located on one side of the large training ground.

High-ranking commanders of battalion and regimental commander level were seated there.

They had no choice but to come to find out what their superior’s intentions were in doing this.

In the midst of this bizarre fervor.

Hemis, who could be said to be the instigator of everything, was calmly watching the situation.

“What do you think will happen?” “I think Choi Hyun-seok will win.”

“Oh ho~ really?”

Hemis’s huge mouth curved upwards at Raidrun’s answer, who was standing next to her.

“There wouldn’t have been much time. Did he prepare quite a bit in the meantime?” “Not only me but Choi Hyun-seok also did his best.” “Doing your best doesn’t mean everyone can become stronger.” “…Choi Hyun-seok possesses talent that is superior to anyone else. He will definitely be able to win.”

“Raidrun.”

“Yes.”

“Wanna make a bet with me?”

Raidrun turned his head to look at Hemis at the word ‘bet’.

There was a grotesquely bright smile on her lips.

“If you’re talking about a bet…”

“We’re betting on whether Choi Hyun-seok or Kurken will win. If Choi Hyun-seok wins, I’ll allow you to continue teaching Choi Hyun-seok in the future.” “What happens if he loses?”

At that moment, Hemis licked her huge lips with her tongue.

“Kill Choi Hyun-seok with your own hands.”

“…”

Raidrun was silent.

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.

One… two… three…

Before 3 seconds had passed, Raidrun opened his mouth.

It was dangerous to delay any longer.

“I understand.”

Fortunately, Hemis smiled as if his answer wasn’t too late.

“Good. Then let’s see each other’s prepared cards! I don’t know how many years it’s been since my heart has been pounding like this. Ohoho!”

Hemis covered her mouth slightly with her hand and laughed.

In contrast, Raidrun’s expression remained stiff.

He stared ahead with a dark look.

‘The Corps Commander has definitely used some kind of trick. What is it…?’

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, his worries were quickly resolved.

“Uwaaaaaaa!”

With a tremendous roar, today’s protagonist, Orc Kurken, appeared. Raidrun let out a small groan upon seeing him.

‘He swallowed magic power…’

Kurken’s magic power had increased explosively in a short period of time.

It was obvious whose magic power it was, even without saying it.

‘This is dangerous.’

Orc Kurken possessed more magic power than he could allow himself to have.

It would probably be difficult to even maintain his sanity.

Even if he won this duel, there was a high probability that his body would collapse and he would die.

‘To go this far…’

Raidrun inadvertently looked at his superior.

Hemis, who met his gaze, twisted her lips.

“Raidrun. No take-backs, okay?”

“…I understand.”

He would never dare to take back a bet with the Corps Commander.

Unless he was a suicide hopeful, that would never happen.

Now, all Raidrun had to do was believe.

In the man who was more suited to the Demon King’s army than anyone else.

‘You have to win! Choi Hyun-seok…!’

***

“From now on, there will be a platoon leader determination battle for the 1st platoon of the Special Forces Headquarters Company directly under the 3rd Corps.”

Unusually, there was a host for this Commander Determination Battle.

Even amidst the commotion, the voice of the demon in charge of the proceedings was clearly transmitted.

It was a simple voice transmission magic.

“Hmph! Hmph! Start quickly!”

“Kuaaaa!”

The training ground roared.

In the middle of it, Choi Hyun-seok was catching his breath.

‘I’m nervous.’

The confidence from just a moment ago felt like a lie.

His body trembled slightly with nervousness.

It was unavoidable since his life was on the line.

‘It’s okay. I’m used to nervousness.’

Choi Hyun-seok had played in numerous games on Earth.

In terms of scale alone, he had fought in stadiums much larger than this.

Nervousness was rather familiar to him.

“Hoo…”

Choi Hyun-seok slowly exhaled and calmed his mind.

At that moment, Kurken, his duel opponent, walked towards him from the opposite side.

Choi Hyun-seok’s face contorted at the sight.

‘What is that?’

There was something strange about Kurken, his duel opponent.

Choi Hyun-seok had definitely spied on Kurken a few days ago.

But now, Kurken had transformed into a completely different orc from then.

“Keureuk… Kuu…”

Dark red light flowed from his eyes, and black mist-like things leaked out every time he exhaled.

“Uwaaaaaaa!”

He let out a roar.

The magic-filled voice echoed loudly.

‘His magic power is fierce.’

His magic power far surpassed his own.

Choi Hyun-seok noticed it at once because he could now handle magic power.

He wore the combat power measuring device that he had brought just in case.

At that moment, Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes widened.

[ Combat Power: 10,573 ]

“What the f…”

The number of digits had changed.

Kurken’s combat power, which he had checked before, was around 6,600.

But in just a few days, it had exceeded 10,000.

Choi Hyun-seok sensed it.

‘That lip monster used some kind of wicked trick!’

It was certain that Hemis had done it.

Otherwise, such a power increase could not have happened in just a few days.

‘Can I win?’

Currently, Choi Hyun-seok’s combat power was 3655.

Compared to the simple numbers, there was a difference of nearly 3 times.

Choi Hyun-seok clenched his fist tightly.

‘I have no choice but to try.’

Combat power is simply a numerical representation of stats.

In reality, Choi Hyun-seok had become much stronger through bloody training for several days, but his combat power had barely increased.

In other words, combat power is not an absolute measure of strength.

So, you don’t know until you fight.

‘I believe I can win. I have to believe!’

On the ring, the first thing to do is to believe in yourself.

Choi Hyun-seok knew that from long experience.

“Platoon leader determination battle! Start!”

Finally, the duel began.