Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 230

Rachel lifted a miniature glass.

“Let’s have a toast!”

She shouted loudly and gulped down the grape juice in her glass.

“Ah! This is the taste!”

“Making a fuss while drinking juice. Anyone would think it’s soju [a Korean distilled spirit].”
“You don’t know anything, Hero!”

Rachel glared at Choi Hyun-seok’s teasing.

“It’s all about the feeling! The feeling!”
“Yeah, yeah. Sure.”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded vaguely and moved away from Rachel.

It was fine for her to play alone, but he didn’t particularly want to join in.

“Should I try some too?”

Choi Hyun-seok sat down in a suitable spot and picked up an elegant glass.

Inside the glass was a dark red wine.

“Oh, this is good.”

So this is the kind of drink a king enjoys.

Even Choi Hyun-seok, who knew nothing about alcohol, could immediately tell it was high-quality due to its excellent taste and aroma.

He quietly pondered while sipping the wine.

‘The war is over… It’s been a long time.’

A few days ago.

The Holy Empire of Gatrein officially declared the end of the war.

The Holy War was over, and all the troops in the Demon Realm had withdrawn.

Finally, the war that had lasted for over 500 years was over.

Where to recognize each other’s territories, how to compensate for damages, and so on.

There were still many headaches left, but at least it was better than fighting and spilling blood.

“For peace!”

“Hooray-!”

And this gathering was a party to commemorate the end of the war.

Many nobles gathered in the banquet hall of Mariette Palace and raised their glasses.

Choi Hyun-seok was drinking alone in a place prepared separately for VIPs inside the banquet hall.

He could see Abelson Mariette talking with the nobles down in the hall.

“Why are you not enjoying the party and staying here alone? Sir Choi Hyun-seok is practically the main attraction of this party.”

A familiar voice came from behind.

Choi Hyun-seok chuckled without turning around.

“Why did you come to a place like this?”
“I’m a bit shy. I didn’t want to run into people I know.”

The Duke of Drasen Empire, Olaven Grimier.

He appeared at this banquet hall alone, as usual.

He visited without an invitation, but no one would refuse the Duke of the Empire.

Choi Hyun-seok nodded lightly in greeting, and he naturally sat down next to him.

“No matter what anyone says, Sir Choi Hyun-seok is the main attraction of this party. The end of the war is thanks to the successful resolution of the matter in the Cherushi Kingdom.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course! To summon the Demon King himself and make a peace agreement! What a fresh and unconventional solution! I thought Sir Choi Hyun-seok was a martial arts type, but I seem to have misunderstood.”

Olaven Grimier’s expression was sincere.

He seemed genuinely impressed with Choi Hyun-seok’s solution.

However, Choi Hyun-seok shook his head indifferently.

“I didn’t summon the Demon King Sidriel. He just suddenly appeared.”
“Hahaha! Thorough to the end. That’s right. The Demon King appeared suddenly, and we have nothing to do with it.”

Olaven Grimier laughed heartily.

This was the banquet hall of Mariette Palace.

It was virtually Choi Hyun-seok’s home base, but his cautious attitude of being careful with his words rather increased his favorability.

“However, the ending of the matter is a bit disappointing. If you had given us a hint, we could have finished it with more dignity.”

For a brief moment, Olaven Grimier’s eyes flashed.

Choi Hyun-seok noticed it but maintained a nonchalant attitude.

‘The ending of the matter…’

The conclusion of the Cherushi Kingdom.

He was probably referring to the fact that all the nobles who had connections with both empires had died.

Certainly, Choi Hyun-seok intentionally excluded the Drasen Empire and proceeded with the matter.

He still thought that judgment was right, and he would have done the same thing even if he went back.

“I didn’t want to create variables. Anyway, Drasen was also involved.”
“Hmm, certainly. That’s true.”

Olaven Grimier stroked his beard.

He seemed to have something to say but soon raised his glass.

“Anyway, today is a day to commemorate peace, so I hope you enjoy it! No matter what anyone says, Sir Choi Hyun-seok, you have contributed the most to this end of the war. You are like a hidden hero, aren’t you?”

Choi Hyun-seok smiled bitterly at the word hidden hero.

It was a false peace made of blood.

If creating such peace made him a hero, then he was a false hero.

Choi Hyun-seok raised his glass again and quenched his thirst with wine.

“Real peace is still far away. Isn’t this just the beginning?”
“Hmm… That’s not wrong.”

Olaven Grimier crossed his arms and continued.

“Giving up the war with the demons. In other words, this is no different from focusing on our human affairs. I think Gatrein will start to act in earnest in the near future with any movement.”

The Holy Empire of Gatrein’s conquest of the continent.

The first step was to eliminate the demons.

It was risky in many ways to attack the same humans while leaving a common enemy called demons.

But suddenly, Gatrein gave up on the demons and withdrew its troops.

This was like declaring that they would focus on internal affairs while organizing the noisy interior.

“They will focus on occupying small kingdoms and move to reverse public opinion. They might even blow up a city or two, pretending it was the demons.”

Blowing up a city.

Thousands, tens of thousands of people could die.

However, Gatrein was capable of doing such a thing.

They were increasingly cornered, so it wouldn’t be strange to use extreme methods.

Just as Choi Hyun-seok was lost in thought, the communicator in his arms suddenly lit up.

Buzz…!

“I’m fine, so take it.”

The communicator continued to emit light.

Olaven Grimier turned his gaze away as if telling him not to worry, but Choi Hyun-seok did not answer the call.

‘This is a communicator connected to Sidriel…’

A call from the Demon King Sidriel.

It was somehow uncomfortable to receive this in front of Olaven Grimier.

Choi Hyun-seok quietly got up from his seat.

“I’m sorry, but I have to end our conversation here today.”
“Ah, it seems like an important call. Then I can’t help it. It was nice talking to you, Sir Choi Hyun-seok.”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded and left the room.

Olaven Grimier watched him leave.

His eyes sank deeply.

***

After leaving the banquet hall and returning to his room, Choi Hyun-seok immediately activated the communicator.

“Sidriel.”

-Is that Choi Hyun-seok?

“Yeah. What’s wrong?”
-A problem has occurred.

Choi Hyun-seok tilted his head at the word problem.

A problem in this current situation.

The war had ended, and the Holy War army had withdrawn.

What problem could have arisen at a time when they should be enjoying the joy of peace more than anyone else?

-Do you know Doritugs?

“Doritugs…? Ah! Acorn!?”

The commander of the Demon King’s First Army, Doritugs.

Because his name was difficult, Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel called him Acorn.

-Acorn? What is that?

“It’s nothing. Doritugs. I know him. He’s your First Army Commander. What about him?”
-Yesterday. Doritugs suddenly declared independence.

“Independence?”

-He gathered his forces and said he would create a separate country.

“Hmm…”

His head was already starting to ache.

Creating a new country.

As soon as the war ended, a new war was about to begin.

‘I heard he was a demon with some kind of supremacist ideology, but his actions are no different from humans.’

Doritugs leads a high-ranking aristocratic family that produces demon delegates.

In human terms, he could be said to be from the best prestigious family.

He values bloodlines more than anyone else.

Demons. To be exact, he lives with the idea that his clan and family are the best.

It was funny that he resembled the humans he despised the most.

“So what are you going to do?”
-Demons can never be divided. If one force is divided, the ending is determined.

“War, then.”

-Yes. Either the original force collapses, or the new force collapses. One of the two.

“Ugh… Can’t we just split up and live without fighting…”

Choi Hyun-seok shook his head as he spoke.

“No. This is even worse.”

It was not a good idea for the demons to split into two.

Sidriel said he would live peacefully with humans, but what if the demons led by Doritugs opposed that?

What if they invaded the human realm?

War aside, trust in the entire demon race would plummet again.

This was no different from giving the Holy Empire of Gatrein another chance and justification.

“This has become really troublesome.”
-That’s why I’m asking for your help.

“From me? Is there anything I can do there?”
-I want to talk about the details in person. Can you help me?

Choi Hyun-seok scratched the back of his head.

‘I have no choice.’

He couldn’t let the demons split up.

It was a crisis that could undo everything he had done so far.

‘I’ve suffered so much, I can’t let that happen.’

Choi Hyun-seok nodded, having made a decision.

“Okay. I’ll go there tomorrow. Let’s go see Acorn’s face and talk.”
-Thank you. I’ll be waiting.

Just as the communication was about to end.

Suddenly, Sidriel asked a question.

-But Choi Hyun-seok. What is Acorn?

“There’s something like that. Something delicious.”
-If it’s delicious… can you go to heaven?

“Uh…”

Choi Hyun-seok trailed off.

He rolled his eyes back and forth and pondered, but he didn’t know what to answer.

-Why don’t you answer? Can’t you go to heaven?

“Is that so…?”

-Why can’t you go to heaven if it’s delicious?

“That’s, well…”

That day, Choi Hyun-seok had to sweat profusely until late at night explaining delicious food and the expression of heaven.

***

The next day.

Choi Hyun-seok finished preparing to leave early in the morning.

“Our hero. You’re very busy.”
“Are you feeling better?”

“Well, so-so.”

Park Hyun-ah’s treatment was progressing smoothly.

The crisis was over, and the situation had entered a stable phase.

She was still far from being in normal condition, but it was said that time would naturally solve it.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright without me?”

Choi Hyun-seok shook his head at Sarah Dunphy’s question.

“There’s no need for you to come, Sarah.”
“I heard the enemy this time is strong.”
“It’s not like I’m fighting alone. And if both you and I are gone, who will protect this place?”

It would be much easier for Choi Hyun-seok if Sarah Dunphy came along.

She was well-versed in all kinds of magic and, above all, she was strong.

He didn’t know how strong Doritugs was, but if she helped, it wouldn’t be too difficult to deal with him.

However, if that happened, the Mariette Kingdom would be empty.

Park Hyun-ah couldn’t fight yet.

It was difficult to fend off the Holy Empire of Gatrein’s schemes with only Abelson and the Royal Knights’ strength.

“It’s easier for people to go out with peace of mind when they have a reliable backup.”
“That’s also true.”
“I’ll leave this place in your care, Sarah.”
“I understand. Go without worry.”

Sarah Dunphy gave a faint smile.

Choi Hyun-seok nodded and stepped onto the magic circle.

“Then, I’ll be back. If anything happens, contact me immediately.”
“Goodbye, everyone! Don’t be too heartbroken even without Rachel!”

Rachel waved her hand vigorously at the same time.

Light flashed and the two disappeared.

They had used magic to move to the coordinates Sidriel had given them.

“Hoo…”

Sarah Dunphy sighed after using magic.

Park Hyun-ah looked back at Sarah Dunphy.

“Why the sigh?”

“It’s nothing.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

Sarah Dunphy shook her head.

“I’m just feeling the fatigue from using magic.”

Park Hyun-ah’s brow furrowed.

‘This monster is tired from just using teleportation magic?’

That couldn’t be.

Sarah Dunphy was the best on the continent when it came to magic.

For her to look so tired from just one spell.

There must have been another reason, but Park Hyun-ah didn’t bother to ask.

‘Well, she’ll take care of it.’

It was less than a day later.

It was when she heard the news that Sarah Dunphy had left the Mariette Kingdom.