The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 33

Chaos erupted from the very start of the test, just as Roman Dmitry had predicted.

From the beginning, some people got hurt, and others, like Morrison, quickly gave up.

“This is too much! I can’t do this!” Morrison shouted.

“Telling us to keep going even if an arrow hits us? If I get hurt, will you pay for it? I don’t know why you’re doing this test, but I quit.”

“I’m giving up too. I’m not a noble, and I don’t want to risk my life for Roman Dmitry.”

People announced they were quitting all at once.

Even though people were upset and said they wasted their time, Chris didn’t stop them.

Roman had said not to force anyone to stay.

He wanted people who were truly loyal, not just people who were only interested in the rewards Kevin had gotten – rewards of land and riches.

By testing them quickly, Roman could find the truly talented people.

The test continued.

Even though many people had left, some still wanted to prove themselves.

“Henderson, you’re up,” a voice called.

A young man from Lawrence stepped forward, his face determined.

He was just a commoner and hadn’t faced many dangers, so he gritted his teeth, his face showing his fear.

He wanted to quit, just like the others.

However, Henderson remembered the stories of Roman Dmitry bravely fighting the Blood Fang to protect the people of Lawrence. That courage inspired him.

*Just once,* he thought, *I want to be loyal to someone like that.*

It wasn’t about becoming famous. Hearing about Roman’s actions made him feel strong and determined.

“One arrow,” the archer said.

The archer loaded an arrow. Even after seeing people get hurt, he calmly aimed as if it were nothing.

Henderson’s eyes widened.

He was trembling.

The archer smirked and shot the arrow.

*Thwack!*

“……Huff,” Henderson gasped.

It landed right next to him.

The arrow was stuck in the target, only 5cm from his face.

His heart pounded. He wondered if he should quit, but the archer was already loading the next arrow.

“Two arrows.”

Too late.

He couldn’t speak.

It wasn’t courage that made him stay, but he hesitated, and the next arrow was fired.

*Thwack!*

“Three arrows.”

*Thwack!*

Each arrow shot felt like an eternity.

When he saw the last arrow hit the target, Henderson’s legs gave way, and he collapsed.

Cold sweat covered his face.

Henderson looked up, pale and exhausted. Chris said without emotion,

“Henderson, you pass.”

He never wanted to do that again.

More people passed than expected.

Out of 400 applicants, 120 passed the first test.

Most were shaking with fear like Henderson, while others, like Lucas, seemed completely calm and sure of themselves.

The successful candidates gathered together.

Roman stepped forward.

“You passed the first test. You’ve shown you are warriors, but I only want 30 people. So, there will be a second test.”

Roman had already decided who was valuable while watching the test.

Roman noticed Lucas, who faced the arrows with a smile, seemed more valuable than Henderson, despite Henderson’s bravery.

They had different fighting skills.

However, Roman didn’t see a big difference between them.

Henderson stayed in place even though he was afraid of the arrows. Roman wanted to see if they had the courage to control their fear.

Everyone feels fear.

It was more impressive to see someone endure fear than someone who was used to the battlefield and didn’t feel it anymore.

And.

‘The people here all have their own reasons for being here.’

The infamous fool of Dmitry.

They came even after hearing bad things about him.

They had different reasons.

Like Henderson, who was impressed by Roman’s actions in Lawrence, or Lucas, who was curious about the rumors, or some just wanted to be soldiers.

Everyone had their own purpose.

Roman wanted to find the hidden talents among them.

No matter their reasons or fighting skills.

He needed people who were brave and felt respect, not fear, when they faced him.

Fighting skill wasn’t the only thing that mattered.

Lucas might have been skilled enough to be a B-grade mercenary, but Roman knew he could train soldiers like Lucas anytime.

So, it was a choice.

Roman had to choose: take the already skilled Lucas, or develop someone like Henderson over time.

Roman looked at the applicants.

Skilled people like Lucas were confident, while others were not.

‘I want to see how they act towards me. Only those who feel respect, not fear, after seeing what I am like can have a future with me.’

When he met Kevin and Chris, Roman always showed his power.

In the tough world, you needed power, not kind words, to rule over others.

Roman wanted complete loyalty, total obedience.

“Now, we will do the second test. It’s simple. Show me what you can do in a fight against me. I don’t expect you to win. If you can last 1 minute, for any reason, you will pass and get better conditions than before.”

Roman’s words were arrogant.

At first, everyone was surprised.

120 people would take the second test.

They knew Roman was skilled, but even if each fight only lasted 1 minute, the test would take 120 minutes.

But they could pass just by lasting 1 minute.

People were stunned.

Roman was arrogant.

If he was just showing off, they would be very disappointed.

“I’ll go first,” a man said confidently.

He looked like a mercenary.

He was tall, almost 2 meters, and his face was covered in scars, showing he had been through a lot.

He had passed the first test with confidence.

He was angry at Roman’s words.

‘Just last 1 minute to pass? Roman Dmitry is too confident. If he really defeated the Blood Fang alone, he must be strong, but even so, he can’t beat me in 1 minute. I’ll pass first and show what I can do.’

He stood in front of Roman.

He was much bigger than Roman, and people looked back and forth between them.

“Take the sword.”

Chris threw a sword.

It was a wooden sword that wouldn’t kill anyone. It looked like a toy compared to the man.

And then.

“Start.”

The man had been waiting for the signal, flexing his muscles. As soon as Chris spoke, he charged forward.

He didn’t want to just last 1 minute.

Even though Roman might be his leader in the future, he wanted to show him what he was capable of.

So.

He attacked without holding back.

He swung his sword at Roman’s neck, and people thought Roman would be pushed back.

But.

*Whoosh!*

The wind blew.

Roman’s hair moved as the man’s sword passed by. Roman easily dodged the attack.

Chris shivered.

He had fought Roman before and knew how dangerous it was to dodge an attack like that.

In that moment.

The man looked embarrassed.

He quickly tried to attack again, but before he could react, he was falling.

*Thump.*

*Crash!*

“Kuh-uk.”

Roman tripped him.

The man lost his balance and fell to the ground.

It was over.

As the man tried to look up, Roman was already pointing his sword at his neck.

“Next.”

Only then.

People realized this test would be harder than the first.

People thought.

Even if Roman was strong, he would get tired by the 60th fight, and people would start to pass.

So, people waited.

They wanted to buy time and be the ones to pass.

However.

It didn’t go as they expected.

“……No way.”

The 60th challenger.

He was also defeated with one blow.

People couldn’t believe it.

‘Is Roman a monster?’

60 fights.

60 defeats.

No one lasted even 30 seconds, let alone 1 minute.

People who had some fighting experience tried their best, but they ended up on their backs, staring at the sky.

A shiver ran down their spines.

The rumors were true.

Roman Dmitry was strong enough to defeat the Blood Fang alone. He was not the fool of Dmitry.

His cold gaze, his overwhelming power, and the way his voice made people’s hearts race showed what kind of person Roman was.

Just like he said.

Roman was a predator.

In the tough world, he could decide who lived and died.

People’s hearts raced.

Looking at Roman, they thought his words might come true.

“If you pass and become my people, you can live your lives to the fullest. I, Roman Dmitry, promise you that.”

In this world, that was the best promise anyone could make.

People faced reality.

From then on, they were serious.

‘I have to pass. Being one of Roman’s people is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.’

They knew they had to grab this opportunity.

Roman was still seen as the fool of Dmitry.

Now was the time to join the winning side.

It was then.

“Next.”

“Yes, yes, I’m going.”

The 61st person, Lucas, stepped forward.