Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 88

A few days had passed since arriving at the Magic Tower.

In the meantime, Choi Hyun-seok had been focused on one thing: martial arts training.

More precisely, training with Novillais and Flomote.

“What’s needed to stably open the waterway of change?” Rotark had said. “It’s simple: control of magic and your ability to fuse magic power and magical energy. These two are key! Squeak!”

There was no better way to practice these two skills than with Flomote and Novillais.

Flomote was a martial art that intensely activated magical energy, and Novillais was a martial art that fused magical energy and magic power.

He repeated the training.

While pushing his magical energy to the extreme, Choi Hyun-seok’s skills rapidly increased.

But the core problem didn’t improve.

Rather, the more his skills improved, the more serious the situation became.

The more frequently he used magical energy, the more extreme the changes in his body became.

“Uh…? What’s wrong now!” “Kyaa! A monster, a monster! The Hero is turning into a monster!”

At some point, even without using martial arts, his body began to change simply by manipulating magical energy.

The more frequent the changes, the more serious warning signs began to appear.

“Cough, ca, can’t… breathe!”

He would suddenly be unable to breathe.

“Huh…?”

He would lose consciousness while walking down the street.

“Cough!”

There were also instances of collapsing while clutching his heart.

Each time, Rotark examined Choi Hyun-seok’s body.

It wasn’t for experimentation, but purely for treatment.

“Squeak! You’re a handful.”

Stabilizing internal organs and, when necessary, creating new organs to replace them altogether.

For Rotark, who had created countless chimeras [a creature made of mixed parts], this level of treatment was a piece of cake.

After several close calls.

Finally, his body entered a period of relative stability.

In Rotark’s words, he had begun to open the waterway of change.

“Ugh… I’m really going to die.”

Another grueling training session had ended.

Choi Hyun-seok collapsed onto the bed.

Every day, he pushed his body to the limit using Flomote, making him feel like he was dying.

An absolutely impossible training method under normal circumstances.

It was possible only because Rotark could save him as long as he didn’t actually die.

However, just because his body was healed didn’t mean his mental fatigue disappeared.

He was constantly on the verge of death, so fatigue inevitably accumulated.

Thanks to that, even after the training, his head felt like it was about to break.

‘Let’s just endure a little longer. The situation continues to improve.’

But Choi Hyun-seok wasn’t one to succumb to a mere headache.

His mind was still full of thoughts about training.

He didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

‘I can definitely feel that my body is stabilizing now.’

It had already been three weeks since he started training.

His body, which had been changing haphazardly and causing problems, was gradually transforming in a stable manner.

The solution proposed by Rotark.

‘If you can’t stop the change, make it change in the direction you want!’ This method was finally starting to show results.

‘At this point, I should be able to say that there’s no risk of dying in the street.’

A kind of ‘framework’ began to take shape in his body’s changes.

Changes focused on the musculoskeletal system.

Visible phenomena included the growth of horns or the darkening of the skin.

When these changes occurred, Choi Hyun-seok exerted even greater power.

He minimized the side effects of the changes while increasing his combat power.

At this point, it was no longer a change but a kind of evolution.

It was still impossible to control perfectly, but there was hope that it would improve further in the future.

“This must be thanks to the improvement in my control ability.”

Choi Hyun-seok opened his status window and checked the ability section.

▫Abilities: Magic Power Manipulation (B), Magical Energy Manipulation (B)

Both Magic Power Manipulation and Magical Energy Manipulation had risen from C to B rank.

In particular, his control over magic power had improved to an extent that was incomparable to before.

It seemed to be due to the influence of the item he had recently obtained, ‘Lies’s Ring Unsealed’.

This ring, which increased magic power control and magic power usage efficiency by 25%, was proving more useful than expected.

“On top of that, my martial arts proficiency is also steadily increasing, so it’s a sweet deal.”

Choi Hyun-seok’s growth didn’t end there.

He checked Flomote in the martial arts section.

□ Flomote

‧ Proficiency: 26%

The existing Flomote proficiency was 8%.

It had increased more than threefold in just three weeks.

Flomote is a very dangerous martial art.

Originally, it was almost impossible to improve in a short period through training.

From the beginning, the idea of training Flomote itself is a dangerous notion.

Choi Hyun-seok would never have been able to improve it so quickly if it weren’t for the all-purpose healer Rotark.

“If things continue like this, not only will my body stabilize within a few days, but my combat power will increase significantly compared to before.”

Everything was going smoothly.

The only thing that was unsettling was Rotark’s attitude.

“I’m worried about the way that rat sometimes looks at me with those sly eyes…”

Choi Hyun-seok muttered.

He was uneasy about Rotark helping him so willingly.

Growth was smooth, but what would be at the end of this?

He also doubted that the guy would let him go so easily.

Choi Hyun-seok shook off his worries with a sigh.

“Well, it’ll work out somehow. Won’t it, Rachel?”

Choi Hyun-seok called for Rachel.

“…”

Only silence returned.

He looked around.

“Rachel. What kind of prank is this again? Come out quickly.”

Was Rachel, who had been bored, playing hide-and-seek?

He had been so focused on training lately that he hadn’t been able to play with her much.

Choi Hyun-seok eventually pulled out his ultimate move.

“Hey. If you don’t come out now, I’m giving you to the lip monster as a snack.”

With just this one sentence, Rachel would always be startled and rush over in a flurry.

But today, there was no response.

Only then did Choi Hyun-seok realize.

“What? Did she really go somewhere?”

Rachel had disappeared.

***

At the same time.

Rotark was talking to someone in his office.

“What do you think? I think it’s a proposal that’s attractive enough for you. Squeak!”

Rotark was alone in his office.

His conversation partner was a magic communication device.

-So, to put it simply, this is it.

A woman’s voice came from the device.

-You and I join hands and take down Mouth [Hemis]. Isn’t that it?

“Yes. That’s it!”

Rotark’s conversation partner was Park Hyun-ah, the commander of the 4th Corps.

Rotark had secretly contacted her while she was recovering from the injuries she had recently sustained from Hemis.

-What’s the reason? Rat, weren’t you originally on Mouth’s side?

Rotark’s eyes narrowed at Park Hyun-ah’s rough and direct words.

However, Rotark was the one who needed something now.

After all, he was well aware that Park Hyun-ah’s personality was terrible.

He needed to suppress his temper and 맞춰줄 [match] her tune.

“That’s the publicly known picture. It’s not actually true.”-What isn’t?

“Hemis doesn’t see me as an equal corps commander. She treats me like her subordinate. Squeak! I’m tired of listening to that bitch’s orders now.”-That’s a known fact. Mouth sees everyone below her except the Demon King.

As Park Hyun-ah said.

From the start, Hemis had treated all the other corps commanders, including Rotark, like her subordinates.

It wasn’t that none of the corps commanders were dissatisfied with this fact, but they couldn’t commit the crazy act of trying to get rid of Hemis.

In the first place, it was a well-known fact that Hemis was a step above the other corps commanders.

-Why are you acting up now after 설설 기다가 [kowtowing] like a 종놈 [servant] for hundreds of years? Tell me honestly. You have other intentions, don’t you?

“That’s…”

Rotark hesitated for a moment.

Should he tell the truth?

‘There’s no point in hiding it now that I’ve said this much.’

He had already revealed the secret that he was going to hit Hemis.

It would be foolish to hide anything more here.

It was better to tell her everything and gain Park Hyun-ah’s support.

“Choi Hyun-seok. You know him, right?”-I know him.

“I want to use that guy as a test subject, but Hemis is in the way. It’s a good thing. I’m going to get rid of Hemis at this opportunity and study her together. Squeak! I’m curious to know what secrets will come out if I dig into that monster!?”

Rotark couldn’t hide his excited voice as if he was truly thrilled.

Park Hyun-ah’s assessment of him was cold.

-You’re crazy. You’re trying to 날리려 [get rid of] a corps commander for such a reason?

It was a well-known fact that Rotark was crazy about research.

But she didn’t know he was this severe.

-Besides, do you think the Demon King will stand still if you do that?

“It’s not difficult to persuade the Demon King. It’s a well-known secret that the Demon King and Hemis don’t have a good relationship.”-Even so, it’s about 처리하는 [dealing with] a corps commander. You also know how sensitive the Demon King is to weakening the military power.

“Funny! The military power of the Demon King’s army is weakening? That’s nonsense!”-What?

“The gap in power caused by Hemis’s death is more than enough to be filled by the research I will obtain.”

Rotark was confident.

The power weakened by Hemis’s death?

He could achieve several times the results with the data obtained from researching Hemis and Choi Hyun-seok.

“Surely the Demon King will understand and accept my words.”

From the Demon King’s point of view, it was a situation where he could just sit back and enjoy the show.

There was no way he wouldn’t accept it.

“Park Hyun-ah. Think carefully. No matter how strong Hemis is, she won’t be able to handle the power of two corps commanders.”-… That’s right.

“So how about it? Join hands with me and hit Hemis.”

Park Hyun-ah was silent for a moment.

Rotark waited anxiously for an answer.

-Okay. Contact me again when you have a detailed plan.

“Okay. I’ll contact you within a few days.”

A deep smile spread across Rotark’s face.

If Park Hyun-ah 넘어오면 [comes over], the plan was as good as successful.

Now all that was left was to 처리하는 [deal with] Hemis and proceed with the best research.

“Hmm…?”

Suddenly, Rotark’s face hardened.

He quickly ended the communication and moved at an incredible speed.

Shuuk!

In the blink of an eye, Rotark left the office, came out into the hallway, and looked around.

‘Strange. I definitely felt a presence.’

No one should hear this conversation now.

The moment the secret leaked, everything would be for naught, and his own neck would be in danger.

Rotark looked around for a while.

Not only that, but he also spread magical energy widely.

‘Hmm, is it my imagination?’

There was nothing suspicious.

In the first place, he had completely blocked off the surroundings and started the call, so it was strange for someone to come in.

“I must have become more sensitive without realizing it. Squeak!”

He seemed to have been a little nervous because of the matter at hand.

A smile returned to Rotark’s face as he returned to his office.

‘Hemis. Choi Hyun-seok, wait…!’

The best test subject that will soon be in his hands.

Although he would have to study Hemis in a dead state, his joy and anticipation were much greater than his regret.

‘The day I dissect and study the Demon King’s head is not far off. Squeak squeak squeak!’

Someday, he would become the strongest in this world and use the Demon King as a test subject as well.

It was Rotark who had a grand dream.

***

Recently, Rachel had been very bored.

This was because Choi Hyun-seok had been focusing only on training.

Even after the training was over, he was only full of thoughts about future training.

Naturally, there was no room for Rachel to intervene, and she became increasingly bored in this remote place.

“Tch! Acting busy!”

At first, she was just thinking of looking around.

Even if she couldn’t get far away from Choi Hyun-seok, it didn’t matter if she was 떨어지는 [separated] to some extent as his power grew stronger.

While 구경 [looking around] the Magic Tower, she happened to overhear an unbelievable story.

“Huff, huff!”

Rachel’s chest rose and fell due to her rough breathing.

What on earth was going on?

‘The rat is trying to hit the lip monster [Hemis]! And he’s joining forces with a crazy corps commander from the Hero!?’

What Rachel was worried about wasn’t Hemis’s safety.

The problem was the situation that would befall Choi Hyun-seok when the 뒷배 [backer] called Hemis disappeared.

‘The Hero’s skull will be opened alive!’

She had to tell Choi Hyun-seok this fact quickly.

Rachel hurried back to the room where Choi Hyun-seok was.

Although a crisis had struck, it was like 천운 [divine luck] based on the situation so far.

This was because she knew the enemy’s scheme in advance.

‘I’m glad the rat is stupid!’

In fact, Rotark’s pure martial power was a little lower compared to other corps commanders.

This was also the case with the sensing area, thanks to which she could not be discovered.

If it had been Hemis who had just had the conversation.

The moment she decided to find Rachel, she would have been caught right away.

“Hero Hero Hero!!!”

Rachel, who had returned to Choi Hyun-seok’s room, shouted urgently.

Choi Hyun-seok looked surprised to see her suddenly appear.

“What? Where have you been?” “That’s not important right now!”

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Rachel approached Choi Hyun-seok’s ear and whispered carefully.

“Right now, the rat is plotting to stab us in the back…!”

Words that could only be shocking began to flow from her mouth.