Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 113

There Are No Bad Heroes In The World – Episode 113 (113/273)

Krauk was a demon from a reasonably well-known family.

Demon

Not one of the top prestigious families, but the kind of family that could swagger around with some confidence in their territory.

As was typical for demons, where bloodlines were important, Krauk grew strong fairly quickly.

He advanced through the ranks, becoming a squad leader and then a platoon leader.

He continued to strive, aiming to become a battalion commander, but he inevitably hit a wall.

“Is this my limit…?”

There’s a reason why bloodlines are important to demons.

Their potential is somewhat predetermined from birth.

Krauk’s limit was platoon leader.

Much stronger than any other platoon leader, but not skilled enough to become a battalion commander.

That was the end of the growth potential Krauk was born with.

He despaired and left the Demon King’s army.

“I will break through my limits no matter what.”

Krauk didn’t give up.

Demons have long lifespans.

He was only 200 years old.

Although his growth period was over, he thought he could become stronger if he tried.

He planned to leave the army and dedicate all his time to training.

“Why…?!”

However, he couldn’t overcome the wall.

In the first place, demons are a race that is not naturally inclined to training.

Their lacking intelligence prevented them from creating systematic training regimens.

It was more likely to break through the wall by experiencing actual combat and growing through it.

Not long after realizing that fact, he received a call from his former unit.

“The 3rd Corps is planning to create a special unit. Apply.”

An officer from the corps said.

If he joined, he could fight humans all day long.

They would let him fight to his heart’s content.

Krauk made a decision.

“This is my last chance.”

He would either die or pass out trying.

If he risked his life and charged forward, he might be able to break the wall that blocked him.

That’s how he arrived at the Gadrak Fortress’s grand training ground.

What appeared at the interview for entering the special unit was a human.

“Ha, the Demon King’s army has really gone too far. A unit with a human as commander.”

Humans are weak.

A unit with a weakling as commander is trash.

To be honest, he wanted to go back right away.

“The interview will proceed as a 1-on-5. Five applicants will spar with Choi Hyun-seok here.”

It was already insulting to spar with a human, but to have five of them gang up on him.

This was an insult to demons.

From his perspective, as someone from a prestigious family with pride in being a demon, he couldn’t possibly let it slide.

His pride was not just wounded, but about to explode.

“I’ll go first!”

As Krauk requested, he was selected for the first interview group.

Five demons, including him, stood on the wide training ground.

A small human stood alone opposite them.

‘I’ll finish him before the others step up.’

Look at that frail human.

He was quite trained for a human, but endlessly weak by demon standards.

His physique was just over half of Krauk’s.

He could crush those cute muscles with one hand.

“I am Krauk of the Dehurun family. Human, I will kill you here and become the commander myself!”

Krauk shouted with all his might.

The human standing opposite him grinned at his provocation.

“Did your muscles grow into your brain? Don’t talk nonsense and come at me.”

The human raised his hand and beckoned with his finger.

“Come on, muscle pig!”

The small creature next to him also waved its fists around, provoking him.

Krauk couldn’t stand it.

“Uwaaaaaaa-!”

Krauk, a gigantic, muscular demon over 3m tall, charged.

“I’ll crush your head in one blow!”

Krauk channeled his demonic energy.

He was different from the other idiots who fought recklessly.

An elite among elites who had mastered the fighting techniques passed down through the Dehurun family!

Dehurun Fist Technique

First Form – Strong Punch

Demonic energy solidified tightly in Krauk’s fist.

Vast power that could crush even steel in one blow.

The fragile human’s head would not be able to withstand it and would be crushed.

Whoosh!

Krauk’s fist tore through the air.

“Where are you swinging?”

The human, who had already moved to the side, was shaking his head.

Krauk’s eyes widened.

“This bastard! He can use magic!?”

“What are you talking about? I just moved to the blind spot.”

“So you had a hidden card. But such shallow magic cannot stop me, Krauk!”

Krauk tried to swing his fist again.

However, the human’s movements were one step faster.

The guy’s leg moved like lightning, striking the area near Krauk’s knee.

Crack…!

“Heok!”

Krauk gasped, his mouth wide open.

“Ah, ah, ah…”

He shifted his gaze and looked down at his leg.

His knee was shattered, and bones were protruding.

Only then did the pain he had forgotten begin to rush in.

“Aaaaaaaagh-!”

Krauk screamed as he collapsed to the ground.

The human looked down at him with a pathetic expression.

“You’re so loud it’s killing me.”

The guy raised his fist.

It was clearly much smaller compared to his own, but for some reason, an indescribable fear washed over him.

“This is what you use a strong punch for. Keep it in mind.”

The fist struck his head.

With a bizarre noise, Krauk’s head dented slightly.

“Ah… I hope he’s not dead?”

The human who threw the punch, Choi Hyun-seok, wore a worried expression for a moment before smiling.

“Well, you know, you can accidentally die and stuff. Right?”

The interview of death was just beginning.

***

Motem was clad in black armor.

His expression was not visible because he was wearing a helmet that covered his head.

That fact was fortunate for others.

Because Motem’s expression inside the helmet was more distorted than ever.

If Choi Hyun-seok had seen it, he would have immediately knelt down and apologized.

“How dare that bastard…”

Motem’s gaze was fixed on one side of the training ground.

The target of his glare was, of course, Choi Hyun-seok.

Choi Hyun-seok was once again shattering the legs of applicants, rendering them unable to fight.

Crack!

The knee shattered with a crisp sound.

The demon with the deer head wailed as he looked at his shattered knee.

‘One hundred and fifth. Same pattern.’

Motem turned his gaze.

There, applicants with shattered knees were lying down and wailing in unison.

The healers who had been prepared in advance were treating them, but the extent of the injuries was so severe that treatment was not easy.

It was clear that they would have to spend at least a few weeks in bed.

Motem raised his hand.

“Change the interview process. From now on, have ten people instead of five for each interview.”

Choi Hyun-seok shrugged once and nodded as if to say he understood.

A gesture that said, ‘Go ahead and do whatever you want.’

That made him even angrier, but he decided to hold back for now.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The interviews that followed were no different from before.

The only difference was that the number of demons whose knees were shattered and lying on the floor increased even faster.

That’s how overwhelming the difference in power between Choi Hyun-seok and the applicants was.

“Hoo…”

Motem sighed.

He had to admit it.

He had underestimated Choi Hyun-seok.

‘I thought I could torment him enough considering his magic power and demonic energy… I didn’t expect the difference to be this severe.’

In fact, Motem had never properly seen Choi Hyun-seok’s skills.

He had only briefly clashed with him during the previous battalion commander tournament.

‘I knew he had a talent for combat. He instinctively knows how to fight, and his mental strength was considerable.’

In that short moment, Motem had grasped Choi Hyun-seok to some extent.

Choi Hyun-seok knew how to really fight, not just exchange blows.

The problem was that this interview was a preparation that took that into account.

‘I completely misunderstood.’

Choi Hyun-seok had developed beyond imagination.

The power he showed had more than doubled in that short time.

However, he thought that the inside would be weak as much as the outside was flashy.

It is common for young demons not to be able to keep up with the sudden growth of power.

However, when he actually looked into it, it was the opposite.

The guy’s inside was stronger than the growth shown on the outside.

‘Hoo, as a result, should I be happy that my subordinate is strong…?’

Motem always said as a habit.

The demons of this era are too weak.

They are no different from big, overgrown children.

In his standards, that was really the case.

No matter how much demonic energy they had, there was no one who knew how to use it properly.

But a human, not a demon, was showing such abilities.

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

‘It would be meaningless to continue the interview any further.’

Motem was certain.

Even if he brought an opponent with similar power to Choi Hyun-seok, there would be almost no one who could beat him.

At least in this era.

That’s how fully Choi Hyun-seok was utilizing the power he had.

To the point that even Motem was impressed.

“Let’s stop here.”

Motem stepped forward and stopped the interview.

Doing it any longer would only increase the number of leg cripples.

“…”

Given the warlike nature of demons, it wouldn’t have been strange for them to shout for him to continue, but the applicants also closed their mouths and agreed.

In fact, they were secretly hoping for it.

They knew that no matter how much they stepped up, the only result would be their knees being shattered.

Motem didn’t like the sight of the applicants saving their own skin even more.

He clicked his tongue and approached Choi Hyun-seok.

“You’re quite something.”

“Haha! You flatter me!”

Choi Hyun-seok, who had conducted interviews in succession, was drenched in sweat.

However, rather than being exhausted, he looked more energetic, as if he had just warmed up.

He had a brighter smile on his face than ever before.

“Choi Hyun-seok. Are you not planning to take on subordinates?”

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes widened at Motem’s question.

“How did you know?”

“It would be stranger if I didn’t know after seeing that.”

Motem pointed to the demons groaning and clutching their broken legs on one side of the training ground.

Choi Hyun-seok scratched the back of his head awkwardly with a sheepish smile.

“What’s the reason?”

“I’ve been thinking, and I don’t think there’s a need for me to become a commander.”

“Why?”

“I’m still growing. I can become much stronger than I am now.”

Choi Hyun-seok said with a serious face.

“Having subordinates would hinder my growth. At least for now, I think it would be more beneficial for the entire Demon King’s army to focus on my own power rather than spending energy elsewhere… That’s what I think.”

“Arrogant.”

Motem chuckled.

“But it’s reasonable. Okay. I need to correct what I just said. You’re not arrogant, but full of confidence. Confidence with reasonable grounds.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll pretend this interview never happened. And I’ll guarantee you as much personal time as possible.”

Choi Hyun-seok couldn’t help but be flustered by the unexpected generous treatment.

He had essentially given Motem the middle finger once again, but he was showing such a magnanimous attitude.

‘Did I misunderstand?’

To be honest, until a little while ago, he thought Motem was narrow-minded.

It seemed too obvious that he was tormenting him over the battalion commander tournament.

However, he needed to correct that thought.

‘I guess I should say he’s worthy of being a subordinate of the Lip Monster [likely a powerful demon or figure of authority]. He’s so generous.’

Just as he was thinking that.

Motem raised his hand and grabbed Choi Hyun-seok’s shoulder.

“In addition, I will personally provide training guidance.”

“Excuse me?”

“How can I let someone with your potential just rot? I’ll help you bloom.”

“W-Well, there’s no need to go that far…”

“I will help you.”

Motem’s grip tightened.

Squeeze…!

His shoulder felt like it was about to break.

‘Scratch what I said about him being generous. He’s still a petty bastard…’

He was clearly a petty person pretending to be generous.

It was obvious that Motem would use training as an excuse to beat him up.

“Why aren’t you answering? I said I’d help you. Let’s start sparring right away.”

The grip on his hand grew even stronger.

Just as Choi Hyun-seok was about to nod with a forced smile.

Someone grabbed Motem’s wrist.

A huge red hand.

It was Raidrun.

“Motem-nim [formal title, similar to ‘Lord’ or ‘Sir’]. Choi Hyun-seok is tired right now.”

“…”

“How about sparring with me instead?”

Motem silently looked at Raidrun.

Raidrun was just staring at Motem with a blank expression as usual.

“…”

Their eyes met for a moment.

Motem released his hand from Choi Hyun-seok’s shoulder.

“Good. That would be fun too.”