Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 105

Bobo snapped his jaws shut, attempting to devour Worston.

In a desperate bid for survival, Worston raised a hand, trying to pry the massive jaws apart.

But Worston prevailed in the struggle.

Bobo’s closing jaw was forced open, retracting completely.

“Ggye-gaeng…!”

Bobo, his jaw wrenched open, recoiled in pain.

Seizing the opportunity, Worston yelled,

“Everyone, retreat! The operation is a failure!”

Worston made a swift decision.

Since capturing Raidrun had failed, he had to minimize further losses.

In the current situation, ordinary soldiers and knights would only become casualties.

“Fall back now! Scatter and regroup at the rendezvous point! Then return to base!”

As the order echoed, the soldiers, well-drilled, began their retreat in droves.

The soldiers and knights dispersed in all directions, following their training.

“Aren’t you going to pursue them?” Choi Hyun-seok asked.

Raidrun shook his head.

“We need to deal with him first. We can’t afford the *yoyu* [Japanese word meaning ‘leeway’ or ‘breathing room’] to worry about the others.”

Even amidst the chaos, Raidrun’s gaze remained sharp and focused.

He was locked onto Worston Gesred.

As if responding to the intensity of that gaze, Worston raised his iron mace.

“I am Worston Gesred, radiant and faithful!” *Hwaaaa-!*

A pure white light erupted from Worston’s body.

In the blindingly powerful light, Worston roared.

“In accordance with the will of the solemn God and the Empire, I shall punish evil!”

Worston Gesred had made his choice.

‘I will die here with the Red Nightmare!’

So many knights had already fallen alongside Byron Hane.

He couldn’t return empty-handed.

‘If I can eliminate the future legion commander at the cost of my life, it’s a worthy exchange.’

Divine power surged from Worston’s body.

He wasn’t just a knight; he was a paladin.

He was preparing to unleash the aura, considered one of the paladin’s ultimate secret techniques.

Divine Descent.

Humans believed it was a god residing within their body, hence the name Divine Descent, but the reality was different.

It was a type of aura that drastically amplified the body’s capabilities with divine power.

Similar to Promot [likely referring to a technique or ability], but with the crucial difference that it invariably led to death.

“Uwaaaaa!”

Light exploded from Worston’s body.

As his mind began to fade, he felt an overwhelming power, capable of shattering anything.

“Heh heh, you’ll never leave here alive…”

Worston’s sentence was cut short.

Choi Hyun-seok and Raidrun, already upon him, unleashed their punches.

“Giving you time to transform is what idiots do!”

Two fists slammed into Worston simultaneously.

*Kwajik!*

Worston, struck in the stomach, was sent flying through the air, crashing into a tree.

“Don’t let up!”

“Yes!”

“Kwaaang!”

The combined assault of the hero, the demon, and the beast commenced.

***

Abelson Marriott.

The former next Holy Maiden of the Holy Empire.

Now, she served as Choi Hyun-seok’s exclusive healer (?) within the Demon King’s army.

As a child, Abelson had grown up as a princess of the Marriott royal family.

At the age of 15, she heard the voice of God and was appointed as the next Holy Maiden of the Deusis Order.

After that, as the next Holy Maiden, she traveled the continent, offering aid to those in need.

It was challenging, but also deeply rewarding.

Paladins were always at her side, and countless people revered Abelson.

Twenty-one years.

A time that felt both short and long.

Her life hadn’t been without its difficulties, but it had been largely shielded from the horrors of battle.

“Kwaaaang!”

“Kill! Annihilate them!”

Abelson was reeling from the brutal scene unfolding before her.

Beasts devouring people.

People slaughtering each other.

A sight she could never become accustomed to.

All Abelson could do was stare in stunned silence.

“Everyone, retreat! The operation has failed!”

Then, the enemy forces began to withdraw.

Soldiers and knights scattered in all directions, following Worston’s order to retreat.

Unfortunately, some soldiers spotted Abelson during their flight.

“Abelson Marriott!”

“The traitorous Holy Maiden!”

Abelson, startled, looked around and quickly shook her head.

‘Get a grip! There’s no one coming to help you!’

She shook her head again, more firmly.

This was a battle.

No one could protect her.

She had to overcome this on her own.

“Let’s capture that bitch and go back!” “How much is the bounty on the Holy Maiden!?”

Three men advanced towards her.

Abelson had to make a choice.

‘Should I cast a protective spell?’

She hadn’t learned any divine magic that could harm humans.

All she could do in this situation was buy time with a shield.

But she had to discard that option.

‘It will attract attention.’

Only three soldiers were approaching now.

The others hadn’t yet recognized Abelson’s identity.

Using magic now would draw unwanted attention.

‘Even if they’re just soldiers, I won’t be able to hold out once a knight arrives.’

Choi Hyun-seok, Raidrun, and Bobo were all locked in a fierce battle against Worston.

If she were captured now, it would put them in grave danger.

‘What should I do…?’

Then, something caught Abelson’s eye.

‘A mace…’

A mace, a type of iron club.

It had flown into the area during the battle, and its owner was nowhere in sight.

Abelson picked up the mace as if compelled by an unseen force.

“Heh heh. What’s that bitch doing?” “Did she lose her mind after joining the Demon King’s army?”

The soldiers laughed.

Abelson, with her slender frame, looked like she was struggling just to lift the mace.

Her frail arms seemed pitiful.

It was almost comical to see her, who had never fought a battle while living as a Holy Maiden, wielding such a weapon.

“Hey, former Holy Maiden. That’s a dangerous thing. Why don’t you put it down while I’m asking nicely?” “If it’s Abelson, isn’t she from the Marriott royal family? A princess with a mace is a complete comedy. Hahaha!” “Hansen, if we catch the Holy Maiden, a special promotion is guaranteed, right?” “It’s not just a special promotion. We’ll get a bounty that will feed three generations!” “Heh! That’s thrilling. To have such an opportunity during the retreat. Isn’t God watching over us?” “That’s right. God must have wanted to punish the traitorous Holy Maiden. Hehehe!”

Then, one of the soldiers who had been listening to the conversation spoke up.

“Both of you shut up. Do you want to share the credit with someone else for no reason?” “Oops. I have to be careful. I can’t share the bounty.” “That’s right. There’s not even enough for the three of us to share.”

The soldiers were already giddy with excitement, as if they had already captured Abelson.

There was a huge bounty on Abelson, who had been branded a traitor.

An amount that commoners couldn’t even dream of.

The only thing on their minds was monopolizing the reward.

“The worst…”

But there was something this trio of soldiers didn’t know.

That Abelson was receiving God’s grace.

Although it wasn’t public knowledge, those who had received God’s grace possessed physical abilities comparable to those of a knight.

In other words.

“Uh? Are you going to swing that? It’s going to be dangerous.” “What if you hurt your precious body? Heh heh!”

For Abelson, killing three ordinary soldiers was easier than eating a snack.

*Kwajik!*

The head of the soldier struck by the mace was half-shattered.

Blood and brain fluid splattered everywhere.

The soldier collapsed to the floor as if his bones had turned to dust.

“Hansen! You crazy!”

“Get a hold of yourself! We have to attack the Holy Maiden right now….” *Kwajik! Kwajik!*

They couldn’t even see Abelson’s movements.

The moment they registered the mace swinging, death was certain.

“Haa… Haa…”

Abelson’s breathing became ragged.

Her cheeks were flushed red.

Not because she was tired.

The Holy Maiden’s body didn’t feel fatigue from swinging the mace a few times.

‘My heart feels like it’s going to explode.’

Tension.

Blood surged wildly at the first murder she had ever committed.

Blood rushed to her head, and she felt dizzy.

She looked at her mace.

*Ttuduk, ttuk…*

Flesh and blood stuck to the mace dripped to the floor.

Looking at the scene, Abelson’s eyes glazed over.

“Thrilling…”

Abelson, who muttered the word without realizing it, quickly covered her mouth.

She quickly looked around, wondering if anyone had heard her.

“…”

Fortunately, no one had.

Abelson, letting out a sigh of relief, quietly slipped away into the forest.

In her hand, concealed within the trees, she still clutched the mace stained with blood.

***

“Heok, heok…! Is that guy really human?”

Choi Hyun-seok wore a disgusted expression.

Before him stood Worston, covered in blood.

‘Excluding Park Hyun-ah, he’s the strongest human I’ve ever met. And by a wide margin!’

Worston was putting up an unyielding fight.

He was battling Raidrun, Choi Hyun-seok, and Bobo simultaneously.

It would have been impossible under normal circumstances, but the Divine Descent he had unleashed made it possible.

“That’s why paladins are so troublesome. Think of Divine Descent as making them 1.5 times stronger the moment they use it.”

“Are there no side effects?”

“No.”

“That’s a real scam skill…”

Divine Descent was similar to Promot, but also different.

There was a reason why Promot had been abandoned despite its power.

Too many side effects.

Not only was the probability of failure high, but it also caused terrible pain during use.

As a bonus, judgment was clouded, and it was difficult to control the suddenly strengthened body.

In addition, there was a restriction that other auras couldn’t be used during Promot operation.

After it was over, you felt a sense of powerlessness that left you unable to move a finger, and in severe cases, it led to death.

This is why Promot was abandoned.

But Divine Descent was different.

It only took the advantages of Promot and had no disadvantages at all.

Even during Divine Descent, concentration increased as if taking drugs, and pain disappeared, so combat power increased even more.

“The price of Divine Descent is only one thing: life.”

The only price for all of this was one’s life.

Divine Descent was destined to die the moment it was used.

“He’ll die the moment his divine power runs out.”

“How long do you think it will take?” “Not much time left. He’s at his limit now, too.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Choi Hyun-seok glanced around.

Both Raidrun and Bobo were severely injured.

In particular, Raidrun’s condition was so serious that it was strange he wasn’t dying right away.

It was questionable how he was standing as if he was fine.

‘I’m almost at my limit, too…’

Choi Hyun-seok’s condition wasn’t good either.

In order to fight Worston, he had been forced to use magic power and demonic energy excessively.

Not only had it already bottomed out, but the inside of his body was being torn apart by the backlash.

He raised his head and looked at Worston.

“Is the strategy meeting over?”

Worston raised his iron mace.

“Let’s end this without wasting any more time.”

Fortunately, Worston’s condition wasn’t great either.

The armor he was wearing was so broken that it was unrecognizable.

The bones in various places were broken, and his skin was swollen.

However, he could move normally because he didn’t feel fatigue or pain, thanks to the power of Divine Descent.

“This fight is my victory.”

At that moment.

Something caught Choi Hyun-seok’s eye.

‘Abelson *ssi* [Korean honorific]…!?’

A woman approaching stealthily from behind Worston.

It was Abelson Marriott.

In her hand, she held a mace stained with blood.

“Uwaaaa! Die!”

Suddenly, Choi Hyun-seok charged forward with a scream.

Worston smiled at the sight.

“So, you’re a man after all.”

Worston thought.

That the hero was preparing the final blow.

He intended to put everything into it.

Although he was a traitor, he was satisfied with his manly appearance.

Worston also decided to respond in kind.

“Come!”

Worston’s iron mace shone brightly.

Choi Hyun-seok was getting closer.

Finally, just before the two collided.

A heavy impact struck the back of Worston’s head.

*Kwajik!*

“Keoeok…!”

Worston staggered and looked back.

There was the Holy Maiden, holding a mace.

‘Why are you…?’

Why was the Holy Maiden here?

No, why was the Holy Maiden holding a mace?

Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and he realized that he had been deceived by Choi Hyun-seok, but it was already too late.

“Abelson *ssi*! Nice shot!”

Choi Hyun-seok, who had already closed the distance, was swinging his fist.

An uppercut that struck from below to above.

A technique commonly called Seungryonggwon [Rising Dragon Fist].

Raidrun-style martial arts.

Form 4 – Promotion Supreme.

Looking at the approaching fist, Worston thought.

‘Am I being punished…’

At the last moment, what was reflected in his eyes was the Holy Maiden with a bright smile.