Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 135

Slap—!

With a sharp slap, blood sprayed from Niccolo’s mouth.

“W-What are you doing?”

Niccolo shouted, bewildered.

The only response was another slap to the other cheek.

Slap—!

Two slaps were enough to send Niccolo into a frenzy.

“Kugh! You son of a bitch!”

Italian curses immediately poured out. (Note: The original text mentions the curses are translated into Korean for Choi Hyun-seok, implying he doesn’t understand Italian.)

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t understand Italian, but it was conveniently translated into Korean curses for him.

As a reward for the curses, he delivered another slap to the face.

Slap—!

After three slaps, Niccolo’s face began to swell.

As if he wouldn’t stand still any longer, he drew his sword.

“This is self-defense!”

The sword was swung quickly.

The speed was decent, but it was too linear.

Choi Hyun-seok lightly twisted his body to avoid it and slapped him again.

Slap—!

“Kuh-ack!”

This time, there was more force in the swinging palm.

Niccolo spat out blood and retreated.

“I don’t know what you’re up to, but I clearly warned you.”

Niccolo said with a snarl.

Choi Hyun-seok simply stood there with a blank face.

The foul-smelling blood and flesh splattered on his face created a grotesque atmosphere.

“Begging for mercy won’t do you any good!”

Mana began to surge from Niccolo’s body.

Seeing this, his companions clicked their tongues.

“Tsk. Looks like we’ll be cleaning up a corpse.”
“That’s what happens when you pick a fight.”
“Ah, no. Mr. Choi Hyun-seok…”

Only Sangmin was worried about Choi Hyun-seok, but even he had to lower his head under the glares of his companions.

“Haaat!”

Finally, as if his preparation was complete, Niccolo kicked off the ground with a shout.

Choi Hyun-seok thought, ‘How long does it take to prepare such a great technique? I hope he shows me something amazing,’ while still focusing to grasp the enemy’s technique.

Advanced Warrior Swordsmanship

Form 3 – Valiant Strike (勇斬殺) [A sword technique involving multiple rapid strikes]

An illusion occurred as if Niccolo’s body was stretching, and six consecutive strikes followed in an instant.

“There it is! Valiant Strike!”

“Did you see that? It looked like he attacked six times just now!?”
“It’s increased since last time!”

Valiant Strike is a technique based on 3 consecutive strikes.

The number of strikes increases depending on the user’s skill.

Niccolo hadn’t learned Valiant Strike for very long.

But the fact that he had already reached 6 consecutive strikes meant that his talent was quite outstanding.

Ordinary enemies would have been unable to block this attack and would have fallen while spraying blood.

However, unfortunately, this opponent was not an ordinary enemy.

Whoosh, swoosh—! Swish!

The six sword strikes futilely cut through the air.

A crisp slapping sound followed.

Slap—!

Niccolo, who was slapped, forgot even the pain and wore a bewildered expression.

“What was that just now…?”

“Is that the best you’ve got?”

Disappointment was openly displayed on Choi Hyun-seok’s face.

‘He took so long to use such a lousy technique?’

Choi Hyun-seok wasn’t experiencing the technique ‘Valiant Strike’ for the first time.

In the past, the warrior Taylor Andrew fought in the Demon Beast Land Inemosit.

He also used Valiant Strike.

However, the difference in their levels was too stark.

At that time, Taylor used the technique without any preparation.

The speed was also much faster, and it was 12 consecutive strikes.

Furthermore, instead of directly approaching and swinging his sword like the Niccolo in front of him, he used a method of launching sword energy from a distance.

‘When I think about it one by one, it’s almost embarrassing to call it the same technique.’

At that time, Choi Hyun-seok had put in all his effort to barely avoid his attacks.

In comparison, the technique that Niccolo was using now was too easily avoidable.

Even without using mana or demonic energy, but with pure physical ability.

“Don’t you have anything else to show me?”
“W-What kind of trickery is this! I didn’t sense any mana… How did you avoid the technique!?”
“Haa, let’s drop it.”

Choi Hyun-seok shook his head.

Then, he began to slap Niccolo’s cheeks in earnest.

“If you have nothing to show, you have to get hit.”
Slap! Slap! Slap—!

The sound of slaps rang out in succession.

Niccolo’s face quickly became covered in blood.

He staggered repeatedly, and it seemed difficult for him to even stand properly.

“N-Niccolo!”

“Alice! Stop!”

“Damn it! I’ll kill you!”

Niccolo was the leader of the party.

He was the strongest among the group.

With Niccolo being beaten like a dog, there was no way anyone else could stand up to him.

The more rational companions tried to dissuade her, but Alice had no intention of stopping.

“Die!”

Alice raised her staff.

A considerable amount of mana began to gather at the end of her staff.

Choi Hyun-seok watched the scene with interest.

‘Hoh? Is that one a mage?’

5 seconds later.

As if her preparation was complete, Alice shouted with a confident expression.

Intermediate Warrior Magic

Lightning Chain [A magic spell that creates chains of lightning]

A blue beam of light flew towards him.

Choi Hyun-seok focused and examined the magic.

‘The speed is decent? It’s faster than the sword swung by that swordsman earlier.’

The launch speed of the magic used by Alice was faster than the sword swung by Niccolo, the leader of the party.

It took a long time to prepare, but this speed was understandable.

‘The power… I’ll have to experience it once.’

If he wanted to, he could have narrowly avoided it, but Choi Hyun-seok decided to get hit by the magic on purpose.

He was curious about the power of magic based on mana, not magic that used demonic energy.

Paji-jik—!

Blue lightning wrapped around Choi Hyun-seok’s body and began to flash.

Alice cheered at the fact that her attack was successful.

“Die! Just die already!”

She shouted, even spitting, but unfortunately, her wish could not be fulfilled.

‘It’s electrifying, but disappointing.’

The power wasn’t weak.

If hit unexpectedly, Choi Hyun-seok would have been quite shocked.

However, in this situation where he knew it was coming, it was at a level where he could sufficiently offset it with mana.

‘Certainly, when looking at the power alone, it’s weaker than using demonic energy.’

Choi Hyun-seok put strength into his arm while covering it with mana.

Crack, paat—!

The lightning chain that was surrounding him broke and disappeared.

Alice’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“Hey, warriors. Is there anything else?”
“Why…? This can’t be…”

“I’m asking if there’s anything else.”

“This can’t be happening…”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded.

“Okay. If there’s nothing else, you have to get hit.”

Choi Hyun-seok began to slap again.

This time, Niccolo and Alice were hit together.

Jja-aak—! Jja-aak—!

“P-Please… save me…”

Now, the skin on Niccolo’s face was about to be torn off.

His handsome face was so horribly disfigured that it was impossible to recognize its original form.

Choi Hyun-seok patted Niccolo’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. You won’t die from this.”

Then, he muttered in a small voice at the end, ‘Maybe?’

Unfortunately, Niccolo, who heard those words, fell into even greater despair.

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t care and raised his palm.

‘Well, if he dies, there’s nothing I can do.’

Now, there’s no such thing as guilt.

There’s already a truckload of warriors and heroes of humanity who have died at his hands.

Adding a few more to the truck’s cargo hold, which has already completed its preparation for operation and departed, doesn’t change anything.

The only thing Choi Hyun-seok is worried about is the disappearance of his humanity.

In order for himself, who harbors demonic energy, to truly exist as a human, he felt that he had to leave some semblance of conscience in one corner of his heart.

‘Let’s focus on the present for now!’

Choi Hyun-seok raised his palm.

One way or another, now is the time to realize justice.

“Now, let’s continue the conversation.”

Choi Hyun-seok’s smile, as he grinned, somehow resembled Hemis.

***

“Niccolo… are you okay?”

“Shut up!!!”

Niccolo shouted as if he was having a seizure.

His eyes, buried in his swollen face, were flashing strangely.

Because Alice, who was in charge of healing in the party, had fainted, he had not yet received proper treatment.

“That son of a bitch…”

Niccolo muttered with his teeth clenched.

The battle(?) he had with Choi Hyun-seok was constantly replaying in his head.

‘How can he become so strong?’

It was the first time in his life that he had felt so powerless.

No matter what he did, he couldn’t even touch Choi Hyun-seok’s hair.

‘He didn’t even move that fast.’

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t overwhelm him with an overwhelming difference in specs.

Rather, except for a few moments, he hardly used mana.

He fought with pure physical ability, and even that felt like he wasn’t putting in his full effort.

Yet, there was nothing Niccolo could do.

Because Choi Hyun-seok avoided his attacks before they could even reach him, as if he already knew.

‘Does he have a skill to grasp the opponent’s movements? Or maybe an ability to see the future.’

Niccolo thinks.

It is clear that he has some special ability.

Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense.

‘What kind of ability is it…!’

Of course, everything is Niccolo’s delusion.

Choi Hyun-seok does not have the ability to see the future or grasp the opponent’s movements.

The reason he couldn’t reach Choi Hyun-seok was simply because he lacked skill.

There is no other reason.

Niccolo, who moved safely with his party and grew by catching suitable monsters.

Choi Hyun-seok, who grew by fighting against numerous strong people in extreme situations.

The difference in their combat abilities was bound to be overwhelming.

Even if Choi Hyun-seok and Niccolo had the same combat power.

Even if Choi Hyun-seok’s combat power was lower, the result would not have been much different.

Niccolo never realized this fact until the end.

“Niccolo… what do we do now?”

Yakubu asked.

“What do you mean? We have to clear the quest.”
“Are we going to continue the quest in this situation?”
“Then what, are we going to tuck our tails and run away like a dog!?”

Niccolo’s voice rose.

Yakubu bit his lip and stepped back.

“Anyway, they’re not interested in us. Honestly… it’s true that we started this whole thing first.”

Niccolo wasn’t such a stupid person.

At least he knew how to reason cause and effect, and he knew how to assess his own situation.

“I’ll apologize cleanly and then focus on the quest. Once Alice wakes up, she’ll be able to heal the wounds quickly.”
“Will that champ leave us alone?”

It was Sangmin who answered Yakubu’s question.

“Mr. Choi Hyun-seok will definitely accept the apology!”

“Really?”

“He’s always been famous for his generous personality. If we admit our mistakes first, he definitely won’t retaliate!”
“I hope so…”

Even with Sangmin’s words, Yakubu’s stiff face did not relax.

‘He seemed out of his mind…’

The image of him slapping their cheeks while grinning still lingered in his eyes.

Would such a person really forgive them?

At least Yakubu thought that things would not go so easily.

***

“Ah, what is it again?”

That night.

Choi Hyun-seok’s face, who was happily eating in the first-floor hall, twisted fiercely.

It was because of the five warriors who had gathered in front of him.

“We have come to offer an apology.”

“An apology?”

“Yes. We are sorry for earlier.”

Niccolo bowed uncomfortably, as if his wounds had not yet healed.

Then, the party members behind him also bowed deeply together.

It seemed to be a method they had learned from Sangmin, who was Korean.

“We will be careful not to interfere with Mr. Choi Hyun-seok’s work in the future.”

“Hoh?”

At that moment, Choi Hyun-seok gave an evil smile.

“You couldn’t pronounce my name properly? You kept calling me Sseok! Sseok!”

“T-That’s…”

“Was it Piccolo?”

“It’s Niccolo.”

“Right. Piccolo. Do you know what I’ve learned in the year or so since I came to this land?”

“…”

“You have to thoroughly crush anyone who climbs on top of you. Or just kill them.”

Niccolo, who met Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes, trembled finely.

‘That’s genuine…’

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes were gleaming with a strange madness.

Those are not the eyes of a normal person.

Cold sweat began to flow down his back.

‘This is not a world where laws protect you.’

That is what Niccolo had realized after spending 3 years in this world.

There is no one here who shouts for human dignity like in 21st century Earth.

Humans use humans as slaves.

War and murder happen as often as eating meals.

Moreover, warriors are not residents of this place, and some countries openly reject warriors.

They are nothing more than unwanted guests.

Things get better if they belong to somewhere or swear allegiance, but Niccolo’s party was not like that.

So, even if they die, no one will care.

In the end, the only thing Niccolo could rely on was Choi Hyun-seok’s mercy.

“Is there a reason why I should spare you?”
“K-Killing people is not right…”
“Ha! Look at this hypocritical bastard.”

Choi Hyun-seok let out a hollow laugh.

“You were trying to kill me earlier too, right? Was that some kind of righteous act of justice? Am I some kind of demon spawn?”

“That’s…”

“Okay, okay, so. Appeal to me about your usefulness.”

“…”

Niccolo closed his mouth tightly like a mute who had eaten honey [a common idiom for someone who is silent].

Choi Hyun-seok brought his face close to him.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you. Huh?”

Warrior Choi Hyun-seok was genuinely smiling.