Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 122

Dark clouds loomed over the Holy Empire of Gatrein.

The death of Ashel Vald, the empire’s legend.

Unlike other legends who generally remain out of the public eye, Ashel Vald frequently appeared before the public, making his death all the more shocking.

“The star of the empire has fallen.”

Gratiam, the capital of Gatrein.

Pope Orban IV made a rare public appearance to deliver a speech.

Numerous imperial citizens gathered in the square, listening intently.

“Sir Ashel Vald wielded his sword for two centuries. He fought the brutal demons with the conviction to save humanity.”

Though the Pope’s voice wasn’t loud, everyone clearly heard him.

People held their breath, waiting for the Pope’s next words.

“He lived a life more sublime than anyone else, and until his last moment, he cried out the name of God! Even in the moment of his mutual destruction with the Gourmet [a particularly powerful and vile demon], the worst of demons! He worried about the future of humanity and hoped for its salvation!”

The Pope’s voice gradually gained strength.

Especially when he said the word ‘Gourmet,’ his neck veins bulged.

Some people, moved by the passionate speech, quietly wiped away tears.

“We will not forget. We will remember his sacrifice until the day all evil demons fall into the fiery pit of hell.”

Afterward, the speech concluded by outlining the direction the Holy Empire would take.

Most of it concerned demons, and it was additionally announced that a statue of Ashel Vald would be erected in the capital, Gratiam.

At that point, people clapped and shouted in unison.

“It was a great speech, Your Holiness.”

After the speech, the Pope returned to the prayer room and met with the ‘hunting dog,’ Kieran Philph [a term implying loyalty and obedience to the Pope].

“Enough with the flattery.”

The Pope narrowed his eyes and glared at Kieran.

“What an absurd situation. How could a so-called legend die so carelessly! Is there some disease that makes you stupid if you hold a sword for too long?”

It was a harsh criticism.

Kieran simply bowed his head.

The Pope, who was uncharacteristically agitated, finally calmed down and composed himself.

“Hoo, I’m sorry. I know this isn’t your fault, Kieran.”

“I understand Your Holiness’s feelings.”

“Anyway, it’s fortunate that we dealt with the Gourmet. One of the biggest obstacles to the great cause has disappeared.”

In any case, Hemiss was dead.

The Gourmet, who had been called the epitome of terror for over 500 years.

Her death would bring great repercussions throughout the continent.

“Your Holiness, the Drasen Empire has officially dispatched an envoy.”

At that moment, Kieran carefully handed over a document.

The Pope frowned as he skimmed through the contents.

“Is it because of Basel Scott’s death?”

“Yes.”

Ashel Vald wasn’t the only legend who died this time.

Basel Scott, the legend of the Drasen Empire.

He was also killed.

To be precise, he was killed by Ashel Vald, but the world believed he died in battle with the Gourmet.

“Don’t worry about it. Basel Scott was killed by the Gourmet. And we are the ones who eliminated that Gourmet.”

“They keep questioning why the Saintess and Ashel Vald were there.”

“Our Holy Empire was heading to the battlefield to prevent the demons’ all-out attack when we happened to discover a battle taking place at that location.”

“…”

“In fact, isn’t our Holy Empire the one that suffered the most damage in this all-out war?”

“That’s right.”

“So ignore Drasen’s protests.”

From the beginning, they had consulted with the Demon King with this intention.

They told them to target the Holy Empire of Gatrein in this all-out attack.

Thanks to this, Gatrein suffered the most damage in this war.

Moreover, the legend Ashel Vald died in Gatrein.

The Drasen Empire’s protests were nothing more than baseless and unjustified demands.

“By the way, what happened to those two?”

The Pope changed the subject.

The two he was referring to were Abelson Marriott, the next Saintess, and Choi Hyun-seok, the traitorous hero.

They were thorns in his side and needed to be eliminated.

Kieran bowed deeply.

“We lost them.”

“Lost them?”

“Yes. They suddenly disappeared just before the demons’ all-out attack began.”

The Pope’s eyes turned fierce.

“I clearly told you not to take your eyes off them.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I thought they would naturally die in the Demon King’s army once the Gourmet disappeared, but this complicates things.”

Now that the Gourmet, who had been their shield, was dead, the Demon King’s army would naturally take care of them.

If necessary, he could even ask the Demon King directly.

All they had to do was confirm their deaths, but things had gone wrong.

“According to the records so far, they are like quick-witted rats. It seems they figured out the situation and ran away.”

“Find them.”

The Pope didn’t say much.

“Search the entire continent to find them. Bring back their corpses, even if that’s all you can find. Do you understand?”

He achieves whatever he wants, using any means necessary.

The Pope had the power to make that possible.

***

The sun was setting.

The hero and Saintess whom the Pope was desperately searching for, Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson, were squatting next to a carriage, watching the sunset.

“What do we do now?”

All their assets had been stolen.

They had no place to sleep, let alone money for a single meal.

In fact, they hadn’t eaten a single piece of bread since morning.

It was fortunate that they could at least drink the water Rachel made with magic.

“Hero… I feel like my stomach is sticking to my back…”

Rachel, who had been slumped on Choi Hyun-seok’s shoulder, muttered.

“That mutt is so lucky. He can sleep even in this situation.”

Even in this situation, the shrunken Bobo was still asleep in Choi Hyun-seok’s arms.

Choi Hyun-seok stroked Bobo while glaring incessantly.

“Those little brats… If I catch them next time, I’ll break their fingers.”

He said as if spitting out the words.

The young siblings who had bumped into Abelson in the morning.

Judging from the circumstances, it was clear that they had stolen the money.

Their innocent faces, trembling with fear, were vivid in his mind.

“Damn it. The more I think about it, the more pissed off I get.”

Choi Hyun-seok learned what true equality was after coming to this world.

Regardless of gender or age, it hurts when you get hit, and you die if you get hit a lot.

That’s true equality.

“I’ll show you what real education is.”

He wouldn’t go so far as to kill for something like theft, but he was going to teach those siblings how scary the world could be, equally.

“Abelson, how long will it take to get to our destination from here?”

Choi Hyun-seok asked.

The current destination was to meet the king of the Marriott Kingdom.

Of course, the destination was also the royal palace of the Marriott Kingdom.

“It will take a week by carriage to get to the royal palace.”

“…It’s not a distance we can travel without any money.”

A sigh escaped him.

The sun would be setting soon.

He had no idea what to do now, with no place to sleep.

“How about selling the horse and carriage instead?”

“Ah, that might be a good idea.”

Abelson nodded at Choi Hyun-seok’s suggestion.

They couldn’t even handle the horse anyway.

Selling it would bring in a good amount of money.

In particular, the carriage looked quite luxurious at first glance and could fetch a high price.

“We’ll sell the horse and carriage to get some food and stay at an inn for another day. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go out into the street and prepare for backpacking.”

“Yes.”

A week by carriage wasn’t a short distance, but it wasn’t a distance they couldn’t walk.

Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson had stamina that surpassed ordinary people.

However, one problem remained.

“But where do we sell this?”

Where should they sell the horse and carriage?

They didn’t know anything about the cost of living or the value of currency in this world, so they didn’t know how much the horse and carriage were worth.

At that time, Rachel, who had been listening from the side, raised her hand.

“Let’s ask the innkeeper! He seemed very kind and friendly.”

“That’s a good idea!”

Choi Hyun-seok immediately went into the inn.

The horse was tied up in the inn’s stable, so there was no need to go far.

“Oh, aren’t you the knight?”

The innkeeper, who recognized Choi Hyun-seok, greeted him.

“The horse and carriage are still there. Are you planning to stay another day?”

“Ahem, actually, I have something I wanted to ask you about.”

Choi Hyun-seok lowered his voice and asked as naturally as possible.

“Is there a place near here where I can sell a horse and carriage for a good price? Or a merchant, perhaps.”

“Oh my. Are you thinking of selling them?”

“Due to circumstances.”

“Then I’ll introduce you to a good place.”

The innkeeper smiled kindly.

“Bell! Come here!”

At the innkeeper’s call, a woman ran out from inside.

The woman, who had just shed her girlishness, had kind eyes that resembled the innkeeper.

“What’s wrong?”

“This knight and young lady want to sell their horse and carriage. Guide them.”

“Yes.”

The woman called Bell nodded without complaint.

“I’ll guide you right away.”

“Thank you.”

Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson followed Bell out of the inn.

“Don’t we need to take the horse and carriage?”

“It’s easier to meet the merchant, talk to them, and bring them here.”

“I see.”

Thinking about it, that seemed like a better idea.

In the first place, no one could ride the horse, so they didn’t have a choice.

Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson followed the woman named Bell for a while.

‘It feels like we’re going to an increasingly shady place… Is it just my imagination?’

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes narrowed.

For some reason, they seemed to be getting further and further away from the main road.

There were more and more people who looked like vagrants on the street.

He often saw men who looked like thugs at a glance.

Choi Hyun-seok felt strange as he saw them sending hostile glances without him noticing.

‘Is the merchant a former gang boss?’

No matter how he thought about it, it was too ominous to be the way to meet a merchant.

Choi Hyun-seok called out to Bell.

“Are we going the right way?”

“Yes. This way is correct.”

“It doesn’t seem like a place where a merchant would be.”

“It’s not a regular merchant, but a trading company that also runs a mercenary group. They give the best price for horses and carriages in Keaton.”

“I see.”

Choi Hyun-seok thought that was possible.

He didn’t know much about the local customs.

Suddenly, a strange thought flashed through his mind.

‘I wish this was a trap. Like in the movies, thugs attacking us!’

Choi Hyun-seok began to imagine.

The innkeeper was actually an evil person, and Bell was leading him and Abelson into a trap.

‘Maybe the siblings we met in the morning were also subordinates of the innkeeper… That would be the best.’

‘It turns out everything was the innkeeper’s plan!’ – How convenient would it be if it was that kind of story?

Choi Hyun-seok sincerely prayed.

‘Attack! Come on! Please! Anyone!’

The easiest way to find the stolen money was to take it back.

Of course, Choi Hyun-seok would get the interest as well.

“We’re here.”

At that time, Bell stopped.

Choi Hyun-seok tilted his head with a puzzled look.

“This is a dead end?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Bell turned around.

She had a pure and innocent smile on her face.

“It’s the best place to rip off rich suckers.”

“Huh…?”

At the same time as Choi Hyun-seok made a bewildered expression, a group of men appeared and blocked the alley.

“Are these the guys?”

“Whew, that blonde is pretty.”

“You bastards. The woman is mine, don’t touch her.”

The thugs appeared, uttering lines that were embarrassing to even call third-rate villains.

“That knight guy is quite big. Be careful.”

“Kick. Don’t worry. He’s a fool who got robbed of 20 Drasen Empire gold coins! Hahaha!”

“Hahahaha!”

The men, about 20 of them, laughed and joked among themselves.

They didn’t seem to care about Abelson and Choi Hyun-seok at all.

At that time, the girl named Bell shouted shrilly.

“Shut up and do your job! Do you think we get jobs like this where we can make a big score often?”

“Okay, why are you yelling, scary.”

“Our Bell. Even her being feisty is cute? Hahahaha!”

“Enough with the jokes. Everyone, get your weapons.”

The men took out various blades and smiled cruelly.

Choi Hyun-seok lowered his head and put his hands together.

He looked as if he was praying.

Seeing that, the one who seemed to be the leader burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Are you looking for God? Unfortunately, God doesn’t help the likes of us. He only helps those in high places.”

Choi Hyun-seok still had his head down.

“Hey, give up.”

“It’s okay. We need to show those guys their own intestines for them to realize that it’s all useless.”

Just as the men were approaching.

Finally, Choi Hyun-seok raised his head.

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

“Thank you… Thank you so much!”

Purity of 100% gratitude.

It was an expression that contained not a single lie.