Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 85

Choi Hyun-seok blinked.

Suddenly, he was going to die in three months.

‘Is this rat bastard joking?’

He examined Rotark’s expression.

Being a rat, it was impossible to read his thoughts.

“What do you mean by dying in three months…?”
“At most, it’s three months. In reality, it could be next month, next week, or no one knows. Maybe even tomorrow, squeak!”

It didn’t seem like a joke.

Choi Hyun-seok felt a momentary dizziness but maintained his composure.

The rat in front of him was, despite appearances, a legion commander.

He couldn’t be trifled with.

“…What’s the reason?”

“You’re aware that your body is changing due to demonic energy, right?”

His body was changing due to demonic energy.

It was a story he had already heard from Abelson.

He had also experienced the phenomenon of his body changing like a demon when using Flomot.

“Before long, the organs in your body will be twisted. It would be fortunate if it were just the kidneys, liver, or digestive system that went wrong. But if the heart or lungs are deformed, at that moment!”

Rotark mimed cutting his own throat with his sharp claws.

“Squeak! You’ll die instantly.”

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes began to dart around.

Of course, Rotark’s words might be a lie.

But they could also be true.

It sounded plausible.

‘Damn… I had a feeling my stomach hasn’t been right lately…!’

Could something already be wrong with his digestive system?

He felt a slight ache in his lower abdomen, and his heart seemed to be pounding.

At that moment, Rotark approached and said in a secretive tone.

“So, I happen to know quite a bit about this! Squeak! I’ll do my best to treat you. How about it?”
“Is that really true!?”
“Of course. Look at this.”

Rotark took out a piece of parchment and held it out.

“This is a contract. A very expensive item, squeak!”

“A contract?”

“Yes. It states that I will do my best to treat you. It’s a contract made with each of our demonic energies, so it can’t be broken.”

The parchment was written in the common language of the continent, perhaps out of consideration for Choi Hyun-seok.

Choi Hyun-seok could now read quite well, so there was no problem.

He carefully read through the contents.

‘Rotark will… treat the human Choi Hyun-seok…’

It started very well.

The problem was what followed.

‘Choi Hyun-seok will actively participate in the experiments presented by Rotark…?’
‘Rotark will conduct experiments within the limits that Choi Hyun-seok does not die…’

Choi Hyun-seok, who was reading the parchment, raised his head.

“Rotark-nim. What are these sentences at the end? Experiments and such…”
“Squeak! It’s nothing! Just clauses necessary for treating you!”

“Is that so…?”

Choi Hyun-seok looked at Rotark with suspicious eyes.

Rotark smiled as if there was no problem.

“Of course! Squeak! You just need to infuse your demonic energy and sign it.”

“…”

“Instead, you must tell your legion commander, Hemis-nim. That you have legitimately made a demonic pact. Understand? Squeak!”

“Hmm…”

Choi Hyun-seok pondered.

It was too suspicious.

But he was worried about not getting treatment.

It would be over the moment his heart or lungs mutated.

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t want to die yet.

No, he didn’t want to die ever.

He would live to 100, 200 years old, see his grandchildren’s grandchildren, and then pass away in a mansion.

‘What should I do?’

As his worries deepened.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I can treat Choi Hyun-seok.”

Abelson stepped forward and said.

Instantly, Rotark’s expression twisted hideously.

“Shut up, you bitch!”

It wasn’t the lighthearted atmosphere he had shown until now.

The fear and grotesqueness emanating from his rat-like appearance were unbelievable.

If there was an incarnation of evil, that’s what it would look like.

“If it weren’t for Hemis-nim, I would have torn you into thousands of pieces the moment you appeared here!”

Abelson stepped back at the fierce momentum.

Rotark clicked his tongue and continued.

“I already know that you’re treating Choi Hyun-seok. The three months I mentioned includes that, so don’t stick your pathetic head in any further.”

Abelson bit her lip.

“How can I believe that what you’re saying isn’t a lie…?”

Even as her body trembled from the demonic energy Rotark was emitting, Abelson stubbornly spoke her mind.

At that sight, Rotark sighed deeply.

“I swear on my demonic energy. I, Rotark, have spoken only the truth as I have seen it. I don’t know what will actually happen, but in my opinion, the human Choi Hyun-seok will die within three months.”

In that moment, a black light arose from Rotark’s body.

Abelson, knowing what that meant, lowered her head.

‘This can’t be happening…’

What Rotark had done was a type of oath magic [a magical vow powered by one’s own life force or demonic energy].

He had declared that he would speak only the truth, staking his magic or demonic energy.

At least in Rotark’s mind, Choi Hyun-seok would definitely die within three months.

Choi Hyun-seok, who had been watching the situation, picked up the parchment.

Rotark smiled widely, as if he had never been angry.

“Yes, yes! Just inject your demonic energy here and it’s done, squeak!”
“Rotark-nim. Do I have to sign this right away?”

“What do you mean?”

“I would be grateful if you could give me some time to decide.”

At the request for time, Rotark scratched his chin.

“Time… not bad. But try not to exceed one week if possible. It wouldn’t do for you to suddenly die.”
“Yes! Thank you for your generosity, Rotark-nim!”
“Then go. It won’t change anything even if you worry, but still! Squeak, squeak, squeak!”

Rotark smiled confidently, as if he already expected the outcome.

***

The next day.

Choi Hyun-seok received the equipment to create a spatial interference magic field and returned to the Black Star [his base of operations].

After a brief return report.

He arrived at his barracks and fiddled with the parchment he had received from Rotark.

“What am I going to do with this…”

He couldn’t help but worry.

It was a matter of life and death.

“Suddenly, I’m terminally ill, and the only person who can cure me is a crazy scientist, and I even have to undergo human experimentation. What kind of dogshit development is this?”

If it were in a movie or novel, he would have trampled on the manuscript, calling it a script written by a third-rate trash writer.

As Choi Hyun-seok was venting his anger and staring at the parchment.

“Sniff, sniff! What’s going to happen to our hero!”

A theatrical voice was heard.

Turning around, he saw Rachel pretending to wipe away tears.

“Hero-nim. Even if your head splits in two or your legs grow to eight, I won’t abandon you, sob, sob!”
“I haven’t said I’ll do it yet? And who sobs while saying ‘sob, sob’ out loud!?”
“But, it can’t be helped, right? You have to live first! Who knows? Having more legs or arms might help defeat the Demon King!”
“Is that supposed to be comforting!?”

Choi Hyun-seok grabbed Rachel’s cheeks.

Pressing her cheeks with his fingers, her lips protruded.

“Oooo, whad are you doing.”

Choi Hyun-seok sighed deeply and roughly tossed Rachel away.

“Kyaa-!”

Leaving Rachel’s scream behind.

Choi Hyun-seok fell into thought.

‘No matter what, I can’t do human experimentation.’

No matter how much his life was at stake, there were things he couldn’t do.

Even if he died, he couldn’t undergo human experimentation.

The reason was simple.

‘What woman in the world would like a man with ten arms and legs?’

If he became too grotesque, romance would be out of the question.

Then naturally, he wouldn’t be able to get married.

He wouldn’t be able to have rabbit-like children.

And he would be left with only a mansion in his old age.

To grow old and die alone in a large house.

He would never want such a life.

‘That’s not living, even if you’re alive.’

What was the reason he had been struggling so hard until now?

There was no point in surviving in such a way.

He would rather just die.

Choi Hyun-seok’s worries deepened.

‘Isn’t there a way to get treatment without the experiments?’

Eliminate the risk and only take the benefits.

Wasn’t there such a miraculous method somewhere?

Choi Hyun-seok crossed his arms and pondered for a long time.

‘That rat bastard. He seemed to be strangely aware of Hemis.’

He replayed Rotark’s words one by one.

“Instead, you must tell your legion commander, Hemis-nim.”
“If it weren’t for Hemis-nim, I would have torn you into thousands of pieces the moment you appeared here!”

Even when Hemis wasn’t present, he always used honorifics [titles of respect].

He somehow seemed to be aware of her, a subtle feeling that there was a hierarchy even though they were both legion commanders.

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes widened.

“Rachel. Who seems stronger, that rat bastard or the lip monster?”

Who was stronger, Rotark or Hemis?

Both had the same rank of legion commander.

Rachel scratched the back of her head as if she didn’t know.

“Well, maybe the lip monster is stronger?”

“Why?”

“As far as I know, the lip monster has been called the second-in-command after the Demon King since the demons appeared on this land. She has also been active in many battles.”
“I see…”

“Yes. She’s lived a long time, so maybe she’s the strongest among the legion commanders?”

“Hmm…”

“Hero-nim. Why are you suddenly asking that?”
“I’m going to ask the lip monster for help.”

At the mention of asking Hemis for help, Rachel narrowed her eyes.

“Ehh~ would that work?”
“You never know. We have to try everything we can.”

It wouldn’t hurt to try.

If Hemis refused, he could look for other methods then.

Choi Hyun-seok left the barracks and headed to Hemis’s office.

***

At the same time.

Hemis was alone in her office.

Doing nothing, Hemis stared blankly into space.

It was a slightly different atmosphere than usual.

It couldn’t be helped.

The events that had occurred in the Demon King’s castle kept replaying in her mind.

Suddenly, Hemis smirked.

“Interesting.”

The conflict between Hemis and the Demon King did not escalate into a major battle.

Their momentum clashed, but it ended there.

The direct use of force was not pursued due to the dissuasion of other legion commanders.

However, the situation could not remain the same as it had been until now.

Demon King Tegrad and Legion Commander Hemis.

The fact that the relationship between the absolute powerhouses had soured was widely known.

‘This has been going on for quite a while…’

In fact, the war of nerves between the Demon King and Hemis was not new.

The ominous atmosphere between the two began about 100 years ago.

It started when the Demon King exiled Hemis to the Black Star and made a secret agreement with humans.

Only the legion commanders knew this fact, and it was never leaked to the outside.

But it would be different in the future.

Part of the Demon King’s castle had collapsed due to this conflict.

The matter had become too big to cover up.

Even if they didn’t know the details, rumors would have already started circulating among the high-ranking commanders.

‘They’re already walking a tightrope.’

Demon King Tegrad and Legion Commander Hemis.

Which rope should they grab?

Originally, they would have chosen the Demon King without hesitation, but Hemis was not a simple legion commander.

She was an ancient being who had lived longer than the Demon King.

She had long surpassed the average lifespan of a demon.

During that long time, Hemis had only grown stronger, never aging.

At this point, she was closer to an unidentifiable monster than a demon.

If Hemis and the Demon King were to clash, who would win?

It was not an easy matter to assert.

Perhaps Hemis…?

Could that ancient monster defeat the Demon King?

These concerns would not leave the minds of the high-ranking commanders.

“Well, they’ll do as they see fit.”

The center of the approaching typhoon.

Hemis was rather calm.

She smirked, with an attitude that she didn’t care how things would turn out.

Knock, knock, knock.

It was then.

Someone knocked on the office door.

Hemis recognized the identity of the person from the unique energy felt outside the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and as expected, Choi Hyun-seok entered.

Hemis’s smile deepened.

These days, she would smile just by looking at Choi Hyun-seok like this.

“What’s the matter?”

It was a voice filled with laughter.

Choi Hyun-seok swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“Legion Commander-nim. I came because I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“First, would you take a look at this?”

Choi Hyun-seok held out a piece of parchment.

Hemis knew it well.

“A demonic pact.”

A contract made with demonic energy.

If the contents of the contract were violated, the demonic energy would be lost and a fatal wound would be inflicted.

Therefore, it was a simple yet powerful contract with strong control.

‘What’s written in it?’

This parchment was quite a valuable item, but it wasn’t that hard to come by.

He wouldn’t have just shown it to her to look at the parchment, so the purpose was probably to convey the contents written here.

Hemis carefully read through the contents.

“Hoo…”

Her smile gradually deepened.

Soon, her lips were torn wide enough to reach her ears.

Hemis, who had read the contents to the end, handed it back to Choi Hyun-seok.

“So. What’s the reason for showing this to me?”

Choi Hyun-seok bowed so low that his head touched the floor.

“Legion Commander-nim! Please help me just once!”