Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 26

There Are No Bad Heroes in the World – Episode 26 (26/273)

‘Choi Hyun-seok is acting strangely,’ Raiderun thought.

An hour had passed since the ‘beating disguised as education’ began.

During that time, Raiderun closely observed Choi Hyun-seok’s movements.

‘Clearly, Choi Hyun-seok’s physical abilities aren’t that impressive.’

Choi Hyun-seok had become stronger, but objectively, he was still relatively weak.

If he went to the battlefield right now, many humans would be stronger than him.

‘But his movements and reactions are like those of a knight who has trained for years.’

Raiderun was struck by Choi Hyun-seok’s combat sense.

His body balance, movements, and reactions were all exceptionally high.

Sometimes, he displayed such remarkable instincts that even Raiderun was impressed.

‘So, what I felt on the first day wasn’t a delusion.’

Raiderun recalled their first meeting and the kick Choi Hyun-seok had thrown.

Raiderun had been forced to accept the attack. He’d found it odd, even considering his lack of defense.

Now he understood why.

‘In conclusion, Choi Hyun-seok’s physical abilities can’t keep up with his mental abilities.’

Simply put, Choi Hyun-seok’s software is excellent—top-notch, even impressive to Raiderun.

However, the hardware doesn’t support it; his body is too weak to properly utilize his abilities.

‘This is normally impossible.’

Combat sense usually comes from extensive experience. The more experience a warrior gains, the stronger their body becomes.

Such a significant imbalance between body and mind shouldn’t occur.

Why is this happening?

There’s a secret here: Before becoming a hero, Choi Hyun-seok was a martial arts champion back on Earth.

He was the champion of the world’s largest martial arts league, known as the strongest man in the world.

Innate talent, constant effort, and training methods utilizing 21st-century science and technology pushed his movements to the limit.

Thanks to this, Choi Hyun-seok, with his excellent physical abilities and senses, became the strongest among ‘Earthlings.’

But this world is different.

Mana, a mysterious power, allows humans to unleash power far beyond their natural limits.

Superhumans and heroes, once confined to movies, exist here.

Thus, an unbridgeable gap existed between Earth and this world.

Choi Hyun-seok, newly exposed to mana, couldn’t yet bridge that gap.

Raiderun reaffirmed his initial assessment.

‘Choi Hyun-seok can become stronger.’

He just needs time to learn mana and improve his physical abilities.

If he does, Choi Hyun-seok will become much stronger than Legion Commander Hemis expects.

‘To achieve that, I need to get him to use mana as quickly as possible.’

Future potential is useless if he dies now.

Raiderun had to get Choi Hyun-seok to handle mana immediately.

‘It’s impossible to master in a day, but I’ll make him capable of using mana within three days.’

Making someone who knows nothing about mana use it in three days is nearly impossible.

But possibility was irrelevant. Now was the time to make the impossible possible.

“Choi Hyun-seok, use mana if you don’t want to die.”

Raiderun moved again.

Choi Hyun-seok, exhausted, seemed unable to lift a finger.

But he couldn’t stop.

The closer Choi Hyun-seok came to death, the greater the chance mana would respond.

“Have you given up on guarding?”

He kicked Choi Hyun-seok’s exposed flank.

“Keuhuk!”

Choi Hyun-seok groaned and was sent flying.

Raiderun’s eyes lit up.

‘Mana moved…?’

He felt the mana inside Choi Hyun-seok wriggling, even slightly.

Raiderun chuckled softly.

‘Not even a day, but an hour…’

He wondered if Choi Hyun-seok was even more of a monster than he thought.

Taaht!

Raiderun kicked off the ground and jumped.

Choi Hyun-seok was still airborne.

‘I’ll strike him down like this.’

He intended to slam the flying Choi Hyun-seok down.

If Choi Hyun-seok couldn’t move mana this time, he would die.

But Raiderun was confident. He can do it.

Kwajik!

Choi Hyun-seok, struck by the fist, plummeted to the floor.

Thud!

Choi Hyun-seok collided with the floor, creating a terrible sound.

It seemed certain he was dead, but Raiderun laughed and approached him.

“Are you okay?”

“Cough! Cough…!”

Choi Hyun-seok coughed up blood.

“How… am I still alive…?”

“You succeeded in moving mana. Did you know that?”

“My prayers were answered… Keuheuk…”

Choi Hyun-seok laughed like a madman.

Raiderun looked at him with a pleased expression.

“Impressive! I’m proud of you!”

He meant it. He hadn’t expected Choi Hyun-seok to move mana so quickly.

Not everyone could move mana just by being pushed to the brink.

“All… thanks to… your excellent… guidance, Raiderun…”

Choi Hyun-seok said in a trembling voice. Even near death, his flattery was typical of him.

“Keuheum…!”

Raiderun’s large eyes welled up. He turned away briefly to wipe them before turning back.

“At this rate, you’ll definitely be able to beat Kurken…”

“I’m sorry, but… I can’t breathe… Keuheok…”

“Ah, it seems your lungs are damaged because your bones are broken. I’ll heal you now.”

Raiderun reached out his hand, and dense magical energy flowed from it.

‘Wait, I’ll get you up in no time.’

A simple healing spell. With his magical power, he could heal this much injury instantly.

However, the result was unexpected.

“Kkeuaaaaaah!”

Choi Hyun-seok screamed. The magical energy was causing a fierce rejection.

Raiderun quickly realized his mistake.

‘Ah, right! Choi Hyun-seok is human!’

He had forgotten that Choi Hyun-seok was human, not a demon. Honestly, his resilience was comparable to that of an average demon.

‘This is a disaster!’

Demons convert mana into demonic energy, which is like poison to humans.

No matter how much healing magic it was, humans and demons were fundamentally different.

“Kkeoheok…!”

Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes trembled and rolled back.

“Choi Hyun-seok! Get a grip!”

“Keoeok, keok…”

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t move.

A tear flowed from Raiderun’s round eyes.

“N, no! Choi Hyun-seok!”

***

The 3rd Legion Headquarters of the Demon King’s army, commonly known as the Black Fortress, was one of its most important strongholds.

Inside the Black Fortress, in the deepest room, a human woman was alone.

She had long silver hair that reached her waist, snow-white skin, and silver eyes.

Her well-sculpted features were admirable. She possessed a beauty that would captivate anyone.

But her eyes seemed lifeless, like those of a dead fish. Her face lacked vitality.

The woman, Abelson Marriott, was the next saintess of the Holy Empire of Gatrein.

She had been imprisoned deep in the Black Fortress ever since Raiderun kidnapped her.

The status of the next saintess was a useful bargaining chip for the Demon King’s army.

Legion Commander Hemis ensured she lived comfortably because of this.

“…”

Only silence filled her room. Abelson sat still, saying nothing and not even praying.

The condition for becoming a saintess was hearing the voice of God. She could hear it, but she didn’t seek God here because she knew it was useless.

Thump!

Someone burst in, opening the door wide. Abelson looked at the uninvited guest expressionlessly.

‘Raiderun.’

Red Nightmare Raiderun, a famous high-ranking demon who had been fighting on the front lines for a long time, was well-known.

Unlike most high-ranking demons, he actively participated in battles.

“Heoheok! Heoheok…! Saintess!”

Raiderun was panting, as if he had run in a hurry. Abelson was puzzled by his anxious face.

‘What’s going on?’

Red Nightmare Raiderun was known for having no emotional changes.

He had slaughtered countless humans on the battlefield, showing no emotion even when killing children and women.

He simply swung his fist and smashed their heads in, like a machine carrying out orders.

Even on the day he kidnapped her, Raiderun had slaughtered the high-ranking paladins expressionlessly.

“Follow me.”

She couldn’t forget the emotionless look on his blood-soaked face as he held out his hand. Now, this same Raiderun was restless.

“Y, you have something you need to do!”

“What is it…?”

Instead of answering, Raiderun suddenly picked up Abelson.

“Kyaaak!?”

Embarrassment flashed across Abelson’s face for the first time.

“There’s a human I need to heal! I’ll take you there myself because there’s no time.”

“What do you mean…, Kyaaaa!”

Raiderun suddenly started running.

***

His head was splitting. Choi Hyun-seok slowly recalled his memories.

The last moment: being hit by Raiderun and slammed into the floor.

‘Raiderun said he would heal me… and then a tremendous pain rushed in.’

His memory stopped there.

‘What the hell did that cow-headed bastard do!?’

He had injected demonic energy into a human.

Choi Hyun-seok, unaware of the details, could only curse Raiderun.

‘I’m not dead, am I…?’

Choi Hyun-seok carefully opened his eyes and was immediately sure of his thoughts.

‘I’m dead after all.’

There was an angel in front of him—an angel with silver hair and silver eyes.

The angel, reaching out to him with an expressionless face, didn’t say anything, but Choi Hyun-seok felt she was telling him he had worked hard.

A warm energy seeped into his body.

Choi Hyun-seok opened his mouth.

“Angel, I’m never doing this crazy thing again. I’m quitting being a hero.”

“…”

The angel didn’t answer. Choi Hyun-seok continued.

“I even think it’s good that I died. I was getting tired of doing this shitty thing anyway.”

He could say anything in front of an angel.

“Ah, angel… there’s one thing I need to ask you… you have to tell God! Rachel. Please throw that bitch into hell. She’s not the kind of person who should be an angel. How foul-mouthed she is for an angel! She just swears as soon as she opens her mouth.”

“…”

Choi Hyun-seok paused, then continued, “Hmm… is hell a bit too harsh? Let’s just do this: I’m going to heaven anyway, so just assign her as my attendant. That sounds good too. You have to tell God this.”

“Yes.”

The angel spoke for the first time. Her voice was as beautiful as her appearance.

Choi Hyun-seok grabbed the angel’s hand.

“Um… angel, I have one last request…”

Choi Hyun-seok’s face turned pink as he spoke. “Could you… give me a kiss…?”

“…”

“I’ve lived my life twice in this body… it would be too sad if I went as an old bachelor both times.”

“…”

“I didn’t even get to see a blonde aristocratic young lady, or five rabbit-like children, or a mansion in my old age. I just died like a dog. So…”

Choi Hyun-seok gently closed his eyes. “Please think of it as a last farewell gift and give me just one kiss…!”

However, the angel’s response was unexpected.

“The worst…”

“Pardon?”

Choi Hyun-seok doubted his ears. He blinked and made a foolish expression.

Bang!

Raiderun burst in, opening the door wide.

“Choi Hyun-seok! You’re awake!”

Raiderun hugged Choi Hyun-seok with tears in his eyes.

Kkwaaaak…!

His body felt like it was going to explode from the tremendous pressure.

“Keo, keoheok!”

He couldn’t understand what was going on, but he knew he would die again if this continued.

“S, save me…!”

“Ah! I’m sorry. I was so happy that I didn’t even realize it… Keuheum!”

Raiderun stepped back awkwardly. Choi Hyun-seok took a deep breath and looked around.

The angel was still there, and so was the cow-head.

“Ha… haha…”

He began to understand the situation.

“Choi Hyun-seok! I’m so glad you’re alive!”

“Yes… me too…”

Choi Hyun-seok wiped away his tears. He wasn’t dead, but alive, and this place was still hell.

But something was even sadder.

‘Shibal [Korean slang for “fuck”]…’

The woman in front of him wasn’t an angel, but a person.

‘I’m so embarrassed I could die…!’

Choi Hyun-seok would rather die.