Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 117

“W-What do you mean, suddenly leave the Demon King’s army? What are you talking about…?”

Choi Hyun-seok stuttered, taken aback.

Being told to leave the army in the middle of the night.

“There’s no time to explain in detail, so pack your bags first.”
“Lord Raidrun, shouldn’t I at least know the reason?”

Despite it being Raidrun speaking, he couldn’t help but object this time.

“Alright, put on your clothes and pack your things. I’ll explain while you do that.”
“No, where am I supposed to go!? There’s nowhere that will accept me if I leave the Demon King’s army!”

A bizarre standoff unfolded, with a Demon King’s officer trying to send away a hero, and the hero trying to stay in the Demon King’s army.

“Choi Hyun-seok.”

“Yes.”

“That’s an order. Put on your clothes and pack your things.”

“…Understood.”

Choi Hyun-seok had no choice but to start moving.

After all, Raidrun was his superior.

It wasn’t because he was afraid of Raidrun’s tightly clenched fist.

“Listen while you pack. Tomorrow morning, there will be a large-scale raid across the entire legion.”

Choi Hyun-seok put on his clothes, quickly packed his things, and perked up his ears.

“Not just our legion, but other legions will be moving as well. It’ll probably be an all-out war for the first time in 100 years.”
“What does that have to do with me leaving?”

He couldn’t understand.

A big war was about to break out tomorrow, yet they were sending him, a battalion commander, away.

As Hemis had said, a battalion commander was quite a high-ranking asset.

Choi Hyun-seok would definitely be of help.

“Just keep listening for now.”

“Yes…”

“Actually, this raid isn’t going to last very long. I just said it’s an all-out war, but that’s just for show.”

Packing was almost done.

He had been in the Demon King’s army for nearly a year, but he hadn’t exactly set up a household, so he didn’t have much to pack.

Choi Hyun-seok felt a strange mix of emotions.

“The raid will be over in a few days, and the two armies will retreat, maintaining the current front line.”
“Is it a mutual agreement?”
“…Yes. The Demon King and the human side have made a pact, I hear.”

Raidrun’s voice grew even darker.

The fact that the Demon King, to whom he had sworn allegiance, was making such secret deals with humans was something he had just learned.

He was still reeling from the shock, so it wasn’t easy to explain the situation to Choi Hyun-seok.

“The reason… No, what’s the purpose? What’s the point of fighting if we’re just going to retreat anyway?”
“It’s for the death of Hemis.”

“Yes…?”

“This war is to deal with Hemis…”

Raidrun gritted his teeth and spat out the words.

“Hemis is aware of this fact and still intends to engage in battle.”
“Then could it be…”

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes widened as if he had guessed something.

Raidrun nodded.

“Yes. Without Hemis, I can’t protect you. There’s a limit to what I can do. That’s why I’m telling you to leave in advance.”

“…”

“You know it too. You’re not the only one after your life. There are plenty within the Demon King’s army as well as humans. So you have to leave without anyone knowing. Create a new identity and stay away from the war.”

Raidrun woke Bobo, who was still snoring.

“Depending on the situation, I may call you back if it seems safe. Until then, disguise yourself as a noble with the Saintess and live in human territory.”

“Kwang…”

Bobo looked at Raidrun with a puzzled expression.

Raidrun took out an unidentified pouch from his pocket and held it out.

“Eat this.”

“Kwang?”

Bobo sniffed at the pouch, trying to figure out what it was.

“Kwang!”

The pouch had a familiar scent.

Extremely concentrated, thick magical energy.

It was from his master, Hemis.

Bobo swallowed the pouch without hesitation.

Gulp-!

The pouch went down his throat.

At the same time, black light began to flow from Bobo’s body.

“Kwaaa…!”

A feeling of intense heat all over his body.

Unable to bear the pain, Bobo twisted his body.

At that moment, Bobo’s body, which had been as large as an elephant, began to shrink.

Before long, Bobo became small enough to be held in Choi Hyun-seok’s arms.

Bobo didn’t move, as if he had lost consciousness.

“Take him. Hemis told me to take Bobo with you.”

Raidrun handed Bobo over.

Choi Hyun-seok had a strange expression as he looked at Bobo in his arms.

“It’s a side effect of suddenly injecting multiple abilities. He’ll probably wake up in a few days, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

“…”

“Bobo will definitely be a great asset, but you have to be careful. You know what I mean.”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s move right away.”

Raidrun quickly left the barracks.

Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson silently followed.

They arrived at a carriage.

Usually, the Demon King’s army’s carriages were pulled by magical beasts called Drakhons [dragon-like beasts], but not this carriage.

“Neigh!”

A horse used by the human army was tied to the carriage.

A human man he had never seen before was sitting in the driver’s seat, and he greeted Raidrun calmly, as if he had been told in advance.

“You’re late.”

“The explanation took longer than expected.”

Raidrun immediately opened the door of the carriage.

Inside, there were fancy dresses and armor scattered around.

These were prepared for Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson’s identity laundering [creating a false identity].

“The Saintess will act as a noble lady. Choi Hyun-seok will act as that lady’s escort knight. Here are your identity papers, clothes, and armor, so check them while you travel.”

Raidrun finished explaining in a rapid-fire manner and finally handed over a round bead.

“This is a secret communication device. There’s only one, so be careful not to break it.”

“…”

“If I ever decide that it’s safe for you to return, I’ll call you back. Until then, don’t die, Choi Hyun-seok.”

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t answer.

He just stared at Raidrun with confused eyes.

‘Just leave? Just like this?’

There were so many things he wanted to ask.

Why the Demon King was trying to kill Hemis.

Why Hemis was going to the battlefield knowing she would die.

And why he was helping and trying to save him so much in the midst of all this.

Questions kept piling up.

But Choi Hyun-seok couldn’t.

“Hurry up and go… there’s no time.”

Because Raidrun’s expression looked so sad.

He didn’t want to make him, who had a face that seemed to contain all the sadness in the world, even sadder.

Choi Hyun-seok bit his lip and lowered his head.

“Thank you for everything.”

Raidrun raised his hand and gripped Choi Hyun-seok’s shoulder.

“There’s no need for such formalities.”

“…”

“I will bring you back to the Demon King’s army, no matter what it takes.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Good.”

After their farewell, the carriage door slammed shut.

Raidrun gazed up at the man perched on the driver’s seat.

“You need to reach a safe haven before dawn.”

“I’m well aware of that, so don’t fret.”

“Okay. Please, take good care of Choi Hyun-seok.”

The man in the driver’s seat, Frisch, snapped the reins.

“Giddy up!”

The carriage rattled out through a secret passage in the Gadrak Castle walls.

Raidrun remained standing, watching the carriage depart.

Until it vanished over the distant horizon.

Raidrun stood there for a long time.

“…”

Finally, when the carriage was completely out of sight, Raidrun stirred.

His steps, firm and resolute, carried a stronger will than ever before.

***

Inside the jostling carriage, Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson remained silent.

Each lost in their own thoughts, the carriage wheels ate up the miles.

‘I suddenly have a splitting headache.’

Choi Hyun-seok massaged his temples, feeling the throbbing pain.

‘There’s a limit to how ridiculous things can get. What am I supposed to do with this…’

He was abandoning the Demon King’s army without warning or explanation.

The Demon King’s army he had always yearned to leave.

The Demon King’s army he knew he would leave someday.

But not like this.

The events had unfolded so rapidly that he felt adrift in a dream.

‘Even if Raidrun calls me back, who knows when that will be?’

Would that day ever truly arrive?

Only one possibility flickered in his mind.

Raidrun ascending the ranks of the Demon King’s army, becoming a legion commander.

‘Raidrun is strong, but not on par with a legion commander. Even if that day dawns, it’s years, perhaps decades, away.’

Some might wonder:

Now that he had escaped the Demon King’s clutches, shouldn’t he simply integrate into human society?

Choi Hyun-seok knew it wasn’t that simple.

‘The Holy Empire will be hunting me relentlessly. That’s why we fled in the dead of night.’

Moreover, Choi Hyun-seok was tainted by demonic energy.

In the eyes of humans, those wielding demonic energy were enemies.

He could suppress his demonic aura if he chose, but he could never be certain when a powerful individual might detect it.

Even if he infiltrated the human world, he would feel like he was slowly withering away.

“Sniff… sniff…”

Just then,

A soft sound broke through his thoughts. He turned to see Rachel, her eyes swollen and red, quietly sobbing.

“What’s wrong? Are you crying?”

“No…”

Her face was streaked with tears, rendering her denial unconvincing.

“Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

“Just… because…”

“Are you sad to leave the Demon King’s army?”

“N-No, I’m not!”

Rachel, caught off guard, stammered, her voice cracking.

“Seriously, you used to sing songs about the day you’d escape the Demon King’s army.”

“That was then, and this is now!”

Rachel exclaimed, then plopped back down in her seat.

“Blockhead. I’m going to miss you…”

“We’ll see each other again someday.”

Choi Hyun-seok turned his gaze to the window.

Just then, the sun crested the horizon, bathing the surroundings in a warm, golden light.

“Where is this coachman taking us?”

Abelson, overhearing Choi Hyun-seok’s question, replied.

“We’re headed to the Mariette Kingdom.”

“Mariette Kingdom?”

“Yes. It’s my hometown. They might offer us sanctuary there.”

Abelson said calmly.

“Mariette… Mariette…”

Choi Hyun-seok furrowed his brow, racking his brain, then suddenly snapped his fingers.

“It’s the same as Abelson’s name?”

Abelson Mariette.

Her last name mirrored their destination.

“Is there some kind of connection?”

“Yes. I am the daughter of the King of Mariette.”

“What!?”

If she was the King’s daughter, that meant she was a princess.

Choi Hyun-seok was stunned.

“Abelson, you were a princess!?”

Abelson looked equally surprised, her eyes widening.

“Didn’t you know? I assumed you knew…”

“I’m a bit lacking in common sense.”

Choi Hyun-seok scratched his head and offered an awkward smile.

“Anyway, if you’re a princess, I feel relieved. The Mariette Kingdom will welcome you with open arms.”

“Well… I’m not so sure about that.”

Abelson’s voice dropped slightly.

Choi Hyun-seok, sensing the shift in atmosphere, asked cautiously.

“Is there a problem?”

“We’re being hunted by the Holy Empire.”

“Ah…”

“To be honest, I’m not even sure if my father will welcome us.”

The influence of the Holy Empire of Gathren on the continent was absolute.

Not only was Orban IV the emperor of the empire, but he also held the position of Pope of the Deusis Order [Deusis Order is the main religion].

“There are other religions on the continent, but the Deusis Order commands the overwhelming majority of followers.”

“Hmm… I guess we can’t predict what the Pope might have done.”

“Yes.”

Choi Hyun-seok nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

“That damn Gathren is the problem.”

Choi Hyun-seok added the Pope to his mental list of ‘people to beat up someday’.

“Well, I guess we have no choice but to go.”

“That’s right. We have nowhere else to go.”

“Then let’s go! What’s the worst that could happen? We could die!”

Choi Hyun-seok declared confidently.

Rachel, who had been listening intently, chuckled.

“It’s funny to hear the hero, who avoids death more than anyone, say that.”

“Ahem…!”

Choi Hyun-seok couldn’t muster any anger, weighed down by a sense of guilt.

“Hey. Try to match the mood for a fresh start.”

“Sure! Let’s go all out, either we die or faint!”

“It sounds a little different, but okay!”

“Woo-hoo! Great!”

Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel shouted with forced enthusiasm.

They say those who can smile in the face of adversity are truly exceptional.

The hero and his devoted fairy were embodying that sentiment with every fiber of their being.