Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 104

The Hero of the Holy Gatrean Empire.

Worthorn Gesred, the radiant and faithful.

It had been a solid 10 years since he was first hailed as a hero.

His military career, fighting on the battlefield as a Holy Knight even before rising to heroism, spanned a remarkable 30 years.

Because of this extensive experience, even among those called heroes, there was an undeniable difference in martial prowess between Byron Hane and Worthorn Gesred.

More refined skills.

Vast divine power accumulated over decades.

And abundant experience.

In every aspect, Worthorn was a more formidable hero than Byron Hane.

Yet, Worthorn didn’t let his guard down for a moment.

He wasn’t a reckless fool, unable to discern danger, like Byron Hane.

‘I can’t guarantee victory in a one-on-one fight. I have to go all out from the start.’

His seasoned instincts were warning him.

A fair, one-on-one fight was out of the question.

No matter how outstanding a hero Worthorn was.

“Knights, deploy the capture magic tools!”

He immediately initiated the carefully prepared operation.

At Worthorn’s command, the Knights, who had been discreetly disguised as ordinary soldiers, revealed their true identities.

Their number was a staggering two hundred.

Raiderun’s expression turned grim.

“You’ve prepared thoroughly, I see.”

Two fully-fledged heroes.

And two hundred knights.

This was nearly the entire force a small nation could mobilize.

A force capable of destabilizing an entire nation if this operation failed.

Only the Holy Gatrean Empire would commit such resources to capture a single demon executive.

“And magic tools… I can’t even begin to count them all.”

Raiderun scanned the area.

The meticulously crafted magic tools were scattered strategically.

Magic tools designed to conceal magic power.

Magic tools to suppress demonic energy.

Magic tools to bind the body.

The 200 knights were equipped with an array of these tools.

One couldn’t even fathom the immense budget allocated to this endeavor.

“Isn’t this… a bit excessive?”

Raiderun asked, his expression twisted in disbelief.

Worthorn sighed and shook his head. “I used to think so too, but now I’ve changed my mind.”

“…”

“If we can neutralize the Red Nightmare with this level of preparation, it’s a worthwhile investment.”

Worthorn raised his beloved weapon, the iron mace.

“Everyone, attack!”

“Waaaaaah-!”

As Worthorn charged forward, the knights surged in from all directions.

Pshwook! Pshwook!

Dozens of harpoons flew towards him.

These weren’t ordinary harpoons; they were magic tools designed to absorb demonic energy upon impact.

In an instant, a chilling realization dawned on Raiderun.

‘These guys… they plan to capture me alive.’

The magic tools were designed to steal his magic power and bind him.

It was clear now; the enemy hadn’t come to kill him.

They intended to imprison him and exploit him.

Normally, demons were executed without hesitation.

If they were going to such lengths, there had to be a specific reason.

‘Their target is Hemis-nim [referring to a superior demon]…?’

The enemy’s intentions were becoming clear.

They likely planned to capture him and use him as bait to lure out Hemis.

‘They’re wasting their time.’

Hemis wasn’t one to be swayed by personal attachments.

Even if he were captured, she wouldn’t lift a finger.

But he had no intention of being captured willingly.

He couldn’t afford to cause trouble for his superior.

Smashing the head of an approaching knight, Raiderun roared, “It won’t go as you wish!”

Raiderun was prepared to fight to the death.

***

Rough, ragged breaths filled the air.

The knights, bloodied and battered, stared at something with terrified eyes.

“That tenacious bastard!”

“Shoot! He’s still moving!”

Once again, a volley of harpoons flew.

Harpoons that drained demonic energy pierced Raiderun’s flesh once more.

Thud…!

Finally, Raiderun collapsed to his knees.

His body was riddled with over 10 harpoons.

Worthorn shouted, his face flushed with agitation. “Capture him! Don’t kill him! Bring him back alive!”

“Yes, sir!”

Magic tools designed to restrain the body were quickly applied to Raiderun, who had lost most of his strength.

“You monster… it’s over now!”

A knight shouted, his voice trembling with excitement.

The fact that he had personally participated in the capture of Raiderun, the infamous Red Nightmare, sent shivers down his spine.

At that moment, Raiderun’s muscles began to swell and bulge.

Crack…!

“Ugh…!?”

The knight stumbled back in surprise.

The magic tool restraining Raiderun’s body was groaning under the strain.

It was on the verge of shattering from sheer brute force.

Worthorn shouted urgently, “You fools! Keep firing magic tools! If one doesn’t work, use two! Use three!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

More and more capture magic tools were piled on.

Finally, Raiderun, utterly exhausted, let out a sigh.

“In the end… it comes to this…”

He had fought desperately, prepared to die, but he had failed.

He briefly considered suicide, but it was already too late.

Worthorn, who had approached swiftly, was looking down at Raiderun with a weary expression.

That hero wouldn’t even allow him the dignity of taking his own life.

“It’s absurd… to suffer this much damage against just one individual.”

Worthorn Gesred sighed heavily.

The damage sustained was far greater than anticipated.

One-third of the two hundred knights were dead, and the rest had suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe.

The hero Byron Hane was critically injured and had fallen unconscious.

Worthorn himself had escaped critical injury, but his wounds were still significant.

Dozens of broken magic tools littered the ground.

“I know capturing is more difficult than killing, but this is simply too much.”

Raiderun had truly fought like a man possessed.

In this operation, Gatrean, as always, had committed more force than deemed necessary.

The goal was to minimize casualties through overwhelming power.

Even with such excessive force, it had been a close call.

Without the support of the magic tools, the capture would have undoubtedly failed.

And even killing him might have proven impossible.

“Perhaps it’s fortunate… that we were able to capture the Red Nightmare, even now.”

He had heard that the Red Nightmare was not even 200 years old.

That was equivalent to being in his early 20s in human terms.

This meant that he still had immense potential for growth.

What would happen if a demon who was already so powerful became even stronger?

‘The future legion commander is confirmed.’

Demon King Army Commander.

In the human world, only legendary figures could stand against such a being.

An existence beyond comprehension, capable of single-handedly destroying an entire nation.

To be able to nip the bud of a monster who might grow into such a being, this much sacrifice might even be considered a bargain.

At that moment, Raiderun raised his head.

“Kill me.”

A simple, emotionless plea.

His eyes were devoid of any feeling.

It was the same cold, detached look he wore when committing massacres on the battlefield.

Worthorn shook his head.

“I can’t do that. Don’t you realize why we went through all this trouble to capture you?”

“Hemis-nim won’t care anyway.”

“We won’t know that until we try.”

Worthorn gripped his iron mace tightly.

“When you wake up from your nap, you’ll be in Gratiam, the capital of the Empire. Let’s meet there again.”

Even in a restrained state, he was a dangerous individual.

It was safer to knock him unconscious and transport him.

The moment Worthorn tightened his grip on the iron mace.

A deafening roar echoed through the forest.

Kwwaaaaaaang!

Thick demonic energy vibrated the air.

Turning his head, he saw a giant dog (?) with a body the size of an elephant.

“A magical beast!?”

He was momentarily surprised to see Bobo bursting out of the forest.

Worthorn quickly raised his iron mace.

Given the circumstances, it was clear that the enemy had reinforcements.

He might have to release Raiderun, whom he had barely captured.

‘The losses are already significant. I can’t afford to lose the Red Nightmare!’

He would rather kill him on the spot than let him escape!

Blood and flesh clung to the iron mace as he raised it.

Just before it crashed down towards Raiderun’s head.

Thwack!

“Cough…!?”

Something struck Worthorn’s side with tremendous force.

Turning his gaze urgently, he saw someone who had rammed into him with their shoulder.

Worthorn’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘A hero…?’

A giant man with black hair.

It was easy to guess his identity.

‘Choi Hyun-seok!’

The traitor hero, Choi Hyun-seok.

***

Choi Hyun-seok gathered as much demonic energy as possible.

‘Combat power 180,000. I can’t win in a head-on fight even if I’m reborn. I’ll seize the advantage with the first surprise attack.’

Worthorn Gesred’s combat power was a staggering 180,000.

A higher number than Byron Hane’s 150,000 and Raiderun’s 160,000.

That’s why Choi Hyun-seok was betting everything on this initial attack.

Raiderun-style martial arts

Form 3 – Wild Charge (猛突擊) [A powerful charging attack]

Just before Worthorn’s iron mace fell.

Choi Hyun-seok’s shoulder slammed into Worthorn’s waist.

“How dare this bastard try to lay a hand on me!”

As Worthorn’s waist twisted grotesquely, he was sent flying like an arrow.

“Bobo! Open your mouth! Food’s coming!”

Bobo was waiting where Worthorn was headed.

Bobo smacked his lips, eyeing Worthorn as he flew towards him.

“Kwang~”

His jaws opened wide.

And Worthorn disappeared inside.

That was the end of him.

Choi Hyun-seok immediately turned his attention to Raiderun.

“Raiderun-nim. Are you alright!?”

“Choi Hyun-seok… How did you get here…”

“Wait a moment. I’ll release you right away.”

He swiftly destroyed the magic tools binding Raiderun.

He also cut away all the harpoons that were draining demonic energy from his body.

He left the harpoon tips embedded in his flesh.

Removing them could cause severe bleeding and be more dangerous.

“Kuh, kugh…!”

At that moment, a groan escaped from nearby.

Byron Hane, who had collapsed, slowly opened his eyes.

“Y-you, who are you!?”

Byron Hane was horrified.

He didn’t understand what was happening, but one thing was clear.

Raiderun was being freed.

He had to act quickly.

Just as Byron was struggling to get to his feet.

Choi Hyun-seok’s leg lashed out like lightning.

Nobilis

Form 2 – Expression of Respect [A technique that targets the lower body to disrupt balance]

A technique designed to attack the opponent’s lower body and break their balance.

But Byron was already lying prone on the ground.

As a result, Choi Hyun-seok’s leg struck Byron’s head instead.

Clang!

A burst of purple light erupted, and Byron Hane’s head snapped back violently.

‘I have to kill this guy now.’

Choi Hyun-seok had already assessed Byron’s combat power.

It was 150,000.

He was an opponent he couldn’t defeat in a fair fight.

Fortunately, Byron was already seriously injured.

The only chance to eliminate him was now, while he was still disoriented.

Swish!

Choi Hyun-seok’s leg split 180 degrees and shot towards the sky.

Demonic energy surged towards his toes.

Choi Hyun-seok pushed the demonic energy to its absolute limit.

He couldn’t afford to worry about the consequences.

Raiderun-style martial arts

Form 2 – Head Trampling (頭跋蠫烒) [A devastating downward kick to the head]

The leg that had soared into the sky came crashing down, wreathed in black flames.

Byron Hane’s eyes widened in terror.

‘I… I have to block it…!’

In his final moments.

Time seemed to slow down for Byron.

Choi Hyun-seok’s foot was getting closer and closer.

The mud clinging to the dirty sole of his shoe grew larger and larger.

‘I have to block it…!’

He knew he had to move, but it was already too late.

Thwack!

Byron Hane’s neck twisted at an unnatural angle as Choi Hyun-seok’s foot connected directly with his forehead.

He died instantly.

A futile end for the most promising young hero in the Holy Gatrean Empire.

[Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!] [Level Up!]….

Level-up notifications chimed in rapid succession.

Choi Hyun-seok ignored them and checked on Raiderun again.

“Raiderun-nim?”

Raiderun had already risen to his feet.

“Are you alright?”

“Hmm, I can move well enough.”

Raiderun on the battlefield was a completely different person.

His entire body was covered in blood, yet his expression remained unchanged, even with dozens of harpoon tips embedded in his flesh.

He casually rotated his shoulders and loosened his body.

“Let’s offer our thanks after the battle is over, Choi Hyun-seok. We need to finish off the remaining enemies now.”

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ve already taken care of the strongest ones.”

He had dealt with Byron Hane directly.

And Worthorn Gesred had disappeared into Bobo’s stomach.

Now that he had eliminated the two heroes, all that remained were ordinary soldiers and knights.

The knights were still a threat, but Bobo and Raiderun could handle them.

“No. The most threatening enemy is still alive.”

Raiderun raised his hand, his expression grave.

Following his gaze, Choi Hyun-seok turned his head.

And was immediately struck with shock.

“What kind of monster is that!?”

Worthorn Gesred was not dead.

“Uwaaaaa! For the Empire!!!”

The old veteran was forcibly prying open the jaws of the magical beast.