Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 195

Screams and explosions assaulted his ears.

The acrid scent of blood hung heavy in the air.

*Splash-!*

A sticky, red puddle formed beneath his feet.

A spring of blood flowed from the corpses scattered around.

Standing amidst the carnage, Park Hyun-ah gripped her sword tightly and shouted.

“You goddamn bastards! What the hell do you think you’re doing!?”

“Ms. Park Hyun-ah! We need to retreat!”

Warriors from Ultimum Fes approached, bearing the marks of fierce battle – large and small wounds crisscrossing their bodies.

“Retreat…? Retreat again?”

Park Hyun-ah trembled, her fists clenched.

“If we’re just going to do this, what was the point of coming in the first place? Let’s just pack it in and go home!”

Her voice grew increasingly agitated.

The warriors of Ultimum Fes exchanged flustered glances, unsure of how to respond. They wondered why Park Hyun-ah was so upset.

“If we’re just going to retreat anyway, why come out here and suffer like dogs!? Shit!”

Repeated defeats had taken their toll.

Since joining the war, Ultimum Fes hadn’t tasted a single real victory.

Only small-scale, localized wins that had little impact on the overall war effort.

In every major battle, Ultimum Fes had been soundly defeated.

A constant cycle of retreat.

Today was no different.

The Siege of Sordrica, a key stronghold of the Demon King’s Third Division.

Ultimum Fes had attempted to defend Sordrica Castle, aiding the Demon King’s army, but they had failed miserably.

“That’s enough, Park Hyun-ah.”

Carebe Cowell, the leader of Ultimum Fes, approached her.

“If we die, there’s no next time.”

“Old man…!”

“The castle has already fallen. What will you accomplish by staying here alone? Let’s retreat for now and refine our strategy.”

Carebe Cowell spoke in a calm, measured tone.

Park Hyun-ah stared into his eyes for a moment before clicking her tongue and turning away.

“I don’t know, shit. Figure out the strategy or whatever.”

“Thank you.”

Carebe Cowell grinned and followed behind Park Hyun-ah.

Following their leaders, the warriors of Ultimum Fes slowly withdrew from the battlefield.

Another retreat.

The rain, as if on cue, began to fall, washing away their tracks.

***

“A request for support?”

Choi Hyun-seok blinked in surprise.

Abelson nodded and reread the letter.

“Yes. I woke up this morning to find this letter from Ms. Park Hyun-ah.”

“What exactly does it say?”

“‘Get your ass over here immediately. I’m desperate enough to borrow even a child’s hands.’ Um, what does ‘child’s hands’ mean?”

Abelson tilted his head, puzzled.

“It means even a child’s help would be welcome. Simply put, she’s saying she’s so desperate she’d take help from anyone, even someone inexperienced like a kid.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Tch, the way she talks, tsk.”

As Choi Hyun-seok clicked his tongue and muttered, Sarah Dunphy, who had been listening to the conversation, interjected.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

“I don’t know. This situation here isn’t fully resolved yet.”

Two weeks had passed since the coronation ceremony.

In that short time, the Mariette Kingdom was quickly stabilizing.

However, there was no room for complacency.

Gatren was still constantly eyeing the Mariette Kingdom, looking for any sign of weakness.

“Cardinal Vincenzo’s atrocities have nothing to do with the Theusis Order or Gatren.”

The Gatren Empire had firmly distanced itself from Cardinal Vincenzo.

It was a calculated move to cut their losses [a common idiom meaning to minimize damage by disavowing a problematic association].

What happened in the Mariette Kingdom was purely the work of Vincenzo alone.

The wealth he had plundered was also found at Vincenzo’s residence, according to Gatren.

It was a decision befitting Gatren, always conscious of its public image.

Of course, they didn’t completely back down and didn’t forget to pressure the Mariette Kingdom.

“However, the suspicion that Abelson Mariette colluded with the demons has not yet been fully cleared, so we will suspend all diplomatic relations with the Mariette Kingdom until this fact is clarified.”

In this precarious situation, Choi Hyun-seok was busy quelling internal unrest within the kingdom and preventing Gatren’s machinations.

“Abelson, the Mariette Kingdom doesn’t have any Legends, do they?”

“No. There are no Legends who are officially aligned with the kingdom.”

To make matters worse, the Mariette Kingdom lacked the protection of any Legend-class figures.

Of course, there might be unknown Legends living somewhere within the kingdom.

Many Legends chose to live ordinary lives, hidden from the world.

However, they weren’t aligned with Abelson, so it was practically the same as having none.

“The Holy Empire might do something at any time, and if I leave, it’ll be difficult in many ways…”

If Choi Hyun-seok left in this situation, it would create a power vacuum and leave the kingdom vulnerable.

If Gatren decided to act, there would be little to stop them.

For example, if they sent a Legend-class powerhouse to assassinate Abelson, they would be helpless.

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

Sarah Dunphy spoke up.

“I still have research to do here anyway. I’ll help Abelson in the meantime.”

“Is that really true?”

“I may not know much about politics, but I know that the work Park Hyun-ah is involved in is important. If that proud mage is asking for help, the situation must be desperate.”

Given Park Hyun-ah’s stubborn personality, she wouldn’t ask for help unless it was absolutely necessary.

The fact that she sent such a message indicated the direness of the situation.

“I’d be grateful if you could help, but…”

Choi Hyun-seok made a reluctant expression.

Honestly, it was still difficult to fully accept Sarah Dunphy as an ally.

The only reason she was helping him was to study his body.

He didn’t know what she was truly thinking.

Could he really trust Sarah Dunphy?

“Let me ask you directly.”

Choi Hyun-seok decided to be blunt instead of worrying.

“The reason you’re helping me is for research, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Then is there a reason why you’re helping Abelson and not me?”

At his question, Sarah Dunphy smirked.

“You’re right. I have no particular reason to help that girl.”

“Then why…?”

“I just like her.”

Sarah Dunphy turned her head and looked at Abelson.

“I’m helping because I like her. There’s no other reason. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

“Hmm…”

Choi Hyun-seok closed his eyes, considering his options.

What should he do?

This was a matter of Abelson’s safety.

From past experiences, he knew that Sarah Dunphy wasn’t one to make empty promises, but he couldn’t blindly trust her either.

“I’m okay.”

Abelson spoke with a newfound resolve.

“Are you really okay?”

“I can’t rely on Choi Hyun-seok forever. Not that I don’t trust Sarah Dunphy, but…”

Abelson took a breath and continued.

“Now I’m the queen of this country, right? I, who should be everyone’s support, can’t be a burden.”

A firm determination shone in her eyes.

Choi Hyun-seok silently nodded.

Going against Abelson’s wishes would be tantamount to undermining her authority.

“Then let’s move immediately without wasting time. But…”

Choi Hyun-seok scratched his head, a troubled expression on his face.

“How do we even get there?”

“There are coordinates here.”

Abelson handed over a note.

It contained a long string of unfamiliar numbers.

Sarah Dunphy examined the numbers and nodded.

“Spatial coordinates. I’ll help you teleport, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you.”

Afterward, Choi Hyun-seok packed his bags and prepared to leave the capital, Scolbon.

Since a barrier that blocked spatial movement was in place over the capital, it was necessary to move some distance away.

“I’m sorry to trouble you.”

“It’s nothing.”

At a point about ten kilometers outside the capital, beyond the range of the barrier, he exchanged his last greetings with Sarah Dunphy before departing.

“Take this.”

Sarah Dunphy handed over a small sphere.

The sphere, which emitted a mysterious dark light, was about 4 cm in diameter and fit perfectly in his hand.

“Whenever your life is in danger, break this sphere. I promise to be there within 5 minutes, no matter where you are on the continent.”

“You shouldn’t have…”

Choi Hyun-seok scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

Sarah Dunphy offered the sphere again, urging him to take it.

“If you become a cold corpse, the joy of my life will disappear, so I’m giving it to you. Don’t feel burdened and just take it.”

“Thank you.”

Choi Hyun-seok bowed his head and accepted the sphere.

“Well, it’s time to say goodbye.”

“Yes! I’ll be going!”

“I’ll start the spatial movement. Close your eyes and accept the magical energy I send.”

Choi Hyun-seok closed his eyes.

Soon after, he felt the magical energy that Sarah Dunphy was releasing wash over him.

A familiar dizziness overwhelmed him.

***

Choi Hyun-seok slowly opened his eyes.

“Where is this…?”

He found himself in an unfamiliar cabin.

It was already dark outside.

A cold draft circulated inside the cabin.

Turning his gaze, he saw Park Hyun-ah sitting on a chair in one corner of the room.

“Sis?”

He called out to Park Hyun-ah as he approached.

“…”

There was no answer.

Upon closer inspection, Park Hyun-ah was sitting in a chair with her arms crossed, dozing off.

“It’s cold, why is she sleeping in a place like this…”

Choi Hyun-seok hesitated as he reached out to shake Park Hyun-ah awake.

‘Wait a minute…’

He moved closer.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t had a chance to see her this relaxed before.’

It had been quite some time since he first met Park Hyun-ah.

In all that time, Choi Hyun-seok had never really gotten a good look at her.

Whenever their eyes met, she would glare at him as if she wanted to kill him, so he had always avoided her gaze.

“…”

Even in her sleep, Park Hyun-ah’s brow was furrowed as if she was angry.

Choi Hyun-seok squatted down in front of her and quietly observed her.

‘She definitely looks younger than me, just based on her appearance.’

Choi Hyun-seok was twenty-nine years old.

Perhaps because he was so big and exercised a lot, his face wasn’t particularly youthful.

On the other hand, Park Hyun-ah looked to be in her mid-twenties at most.

‘Legends are supposed to age in reverse when they reach a certain level, but not to this extent.’

It was said that humans get younger every time they surpass a certain level of power.

Choi Hyun-seok had also noticed slight external changes recently after exceeding a combat power of 300,000.

This was probably why Legends could live for hundreds of years.

‘Even considering that, Sis is too young.’

However, Park Hyun-ah’s appearance was too youthful even considering such rejuvenation.

There was only one hypothesis that could explain this.

‘That means she came to this world at a young age.’

She must have arrived in this world as a young person.

She quickly rose to a high level at a young age and became younger again, which would explain why she had maintained this appearance even as time passed.

‘She must have suffered a lot.’

She was thrust into a strange world at a young age.

A harsh world where she couldn’t rely on law and order.

Although it was difficult for men as well, young women, in particular, would have faced many hardships.

Perhaps the reason she had such a prickly personality was a kind of defense mechanism.

‘I’ll probably get cursed if I ask why she came…?’

Suddenly, Choi Hyun-seok became curious.

To come to this world, you had to die on Earth first.

Then why did Park Hyun-ah die at such a young age?

As he was lost in thought, a thunderous voice rang in his ear.

“Hero! What are you doing!?”

“Shit! You scared me!”

Choi Hyun-seok glared at Rachel.

“What are *you* doing!?”

“I’m the one who wants to ask that! What are you doing right now!?”

“I was just observing…”

Choi Hyun-seok trailed off, startled.

He sensed a sharp magical power emanating from the side.

“Oh? Observing~?”

Turning his gaze, he saw Park Hyun-ah, who was grinning fiercely.

“Oh… did you wake up?”

“Look at this bastard! What were you trying to do while I was sleeping?”

“O- misunderstanding! I just…”

“Just what?”

Choi Hyun-seok hesitated and then blurted out, “…I was just looking.”

Choi Hyun-seok told the truth.

He had just been looking.

Then Rachel interjected.

“No, no! This Rachel saw the Hero looking with lecherous eyes! He must have been thinking all sorts of shameless things!”

“T-t-that’s…!”

Choi Hyun-seok panicked and tried to shut Rachel’s mouth, but it was already too late.

“I knew it! You’re dead.”

Park Hyun-ah got up from her seat and stretched her body, cracking her knuckles.

“Today, I’ll revolutionize your rotten ideology.”

“No! That’s not it!”

Choi Hyun-seok shouted with a wronged expression, but…

“Just die!”

Instead of an answer, a fist of righteous fury came flying his way.