Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad

3 weeks have passed since the first hunt.

During that time, Choi Hyun-seok hunted every day without rest alongside the kitchen soldiers.

Having gained an impressive 22 levels on the first day, Hyun-seok continued to grow steadily after that.

“Haah… That was really tough.”

Of course, hunting wasn’t easy.

He must have faced death dozens of times.

It was literally hell.

Hyun-seok endured those times solely to survive.

As a result.

Hyun-seok finally reached level 100.

He opened his status window with emotional eyes.

▫Name: Choi Hyun-seok

▫Title: Hero Candidate

▫Level: 100

• Strength: 54
• Agility: 51
• Stamina: 53
• Magic Power: 50
• Charisma: 26
• Bonus Points: 0

▫Hero Points: 200

▫Abilities: Pickaxe Usage(C), Leadership(E), Cooking(F)

▫Skills: –

Overall, his stats had noticeably increased.

“It took longer than I thought…”

Hyun-seok shook his head.

Honestly, he didn’t expect it would take 3 weeks to reach level 100.

After all, he gained over 20 levels just from fighting briefly on the first day.

By simple calculation, it should have taken only 5 days to reach this level.

However, reality wasn’t so accommodating.

As his level increased, the experience gain decreased exponentially.

Recently, it was a struggle just to gain a few levels per day.

“Sigh, are there any other heroes who had to suffer like this to level up?”

“What are you saying? You’re living the dream compared to most heroes.”

“What…?”

A murderous glint appeared in Hyun-seok’ eyes.

“I’m living the dream!?”

Just today, a magical beast’s front leg the size of an elephant had grazed his eyebrow.

If he had been even a little slower in dodging, it would have grazed not just his eyebrow but his entire head.

“If that happened, the kitchen soldiers would be dancing around my corpse making soup out of it right now! And you’re calling this living the dream? Huh!? Do you just say whatever comes to mind!?”

“Hmm! Now that I think about it, maybe ‘living the dream’ wasn’t quite right… But your growth speed is still amazing, isn’t it?”

Hyun-seok made a skeptical expression at the mention of his growth speed.

“Is it?”

“Of course! You reached level 100 in just 3 weeks since you started hunting. This is an insane speed.”

Since leveling speed varies greatly between individuals, it’s hard to define what’s ‘normal’.

But it was clear that Hyun-seok’s growth speed was beyond common sense.

“Usually, it takes at least half a year of diligent hunting for a hero to reach level 100.”

“Well, that’s somewhat comforting.”

Half a year to reach level 100.

Although he started leveling late, Hyun-seok had only been here for about 2 months.

So his speed could indeed be considered extremely fast.

“Rachel. With this level, could I win in a duel?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure. Level is a hero-specific thing to begin with, so it’s not really an absolute measure of strength.”

“Really? Then do you know what level the strongest hero was?”

“The strongest hero’s level?”

“Yeah. I thought it might give me some idea of how strong I’ve become.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a moment, Rachel continued.

“If I remember correctly, the last hero who challenged the Demon King was over level 2000.”

“Two thousand!?”

Hyun-seok was shocked at the unexpectedly high number.

“It was the result of over ten years of effort from someone with exceptional talent.”

“Sigh… I still have such a long way to go.”

“Don’t feel too pressured. You’re just getting started.”

Just as Rachel was consoling Hyun-seok, suddenly the door burst open and someone entered.

“Animal Keeper Choi Hyun-seok.”

The Demon King’s Army soldier who entered called out to Hyun-seok directly.

Hyun-seok, who had been lying on Bobo’s back, stood up abruptly and waited for the next words.

“The Corps Commander summons you.”

***

Hemis, Commander of the 3rd Corps of the Demon King’s Army.

To Hyun-seok, she was mainly known as the lip monster, a high-ranking demon.

“Commander, Choi Hyun-seok has arrived.”

“Come in.”

Her voice was still beautifully melodious as ever.

Entering Hemis’s office with the Demon King’s Army soldier, Hyun-seok gulped.

‘Why did she suddenly call me?’

Her office, which he visited after a long time, remained unchanged.

The only furniture was a desk and chair sparsely placed in the spacious room.

Like the day they first met, Hemis, who was sitting seductively on the desk, opened her mouth.

“Welcome, Hyun-seok. You look better than before. Have you adapted to the work somewhat?”

“It’s all thanks to the Commander’s heavenly grace!”

“Ohoho!”

Hemis laughed at Hyun-seok’s habitual flattery.

“I hear you go hunting with the kitchen soldiers every day lately?”

“Yes! I’m working hard every day without fail to deliver fresh magical beast meat to Lord Bobo!”

“Is that why? You’ve become quite strong compared to when we first met. Your magical power seems to have more than doubled.”

Hemis immediately noticed Hyun-seok’s condition.

Suppressing his inner surprise, Hyun-seok nodded.

“Yes, I’ve made some progress while hunting magical beasts.”

“I see. Still, your growth seems too fast. Is it thanks to the hero’s leveling system?”

“Yes! Thanks to leveling up, my stats…”

Hyun-seok’s eyes suddenly widened.

‘What did she just say…?’

Hero. Leveling up.

These were completely natural terms for Hyun-seok.

But they were words that should never have come from Hemis’s mouth.

“Ohoho! Don’t look so surprised. I didn’t call you here to harm you. I’ve known you were a hero from the beginning.”

“What?”

To think she had known he was a hero from the start.

Shocked, Hyun-seok reflexively questioned her.

“How long do you think I’ve been fighting humans? This much is basic.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Ohoho! There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

Hemis, who had been laughing pleasantly, suddenly turned serious and muttered, “Actually, I found out because of that woman.”

Hyun-seok was momentarily puzzled.

“Who is ‘that woman’…?”

Someone whose mere memory seemed to upset Hemis.

Though curious, he had to quickly dismiss it from his mind.

“So. Why do you think I called you today?”

“Is it…”

Desperately racking his brain, Hyun-seok carefully spoke.

“Because of Lord Bobo’s training?”

Hemis shook her head.

“Then about my duel…?”

“Correct! You haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you?”

How could he possibly forget?

Hemis protects Hyun-seok.

In return, Hyun-seok must duel against opponents she designates each month.

If he loses the duel…

He doesn’t even want to imagine what would happen.

“Ah, if you lose the duel, don’t think you’ll die easily.”

“I guarantee you’ll understand the true meaning of wanting to die.”

He would probably experience firsthand what Hemis’s previous words meant.

“Of course I remember.”

“Good. About a week left, right? You need to fight and win against Orc Kurken within that time.”

“Yes.”

“But you know…”

Suddenly, Hemis’s tongue traced her red lips.

“Aren’t you being too complacent?”

“Pardon…?”

“I think you lack a sense of crisis.”

Hyun-seok felt his lips go dry.

“I’m too ignorant to understand your wisdom, Commander.”

“Didn’t I tell you? I knew you were a hero from the start. Do you think someone like me wouldn’t know about a hero’s extraordinary growth rate?”

“…”

Hyun-seok bit his lip firmly.

“Hyun-seok. I like you. You’ve survived using methods I never imagined, and you’re growing stronger quickly. You’re entertaining me in many ways. However…”

Hemis got down from the desk she was sitting on.

She slowly approached and brought her face close to his.

She was so close that he could feel her breath on his ear.

“If this is all you’re capable of, I’ll be disappointed… And you will die.”

Hemis whispered.

At the same time, a subtle magical power leaked from her body.

“Struggle more. For my sake. Understand?”

Hyun-seok was dripping with cold sweat.

His whole body was soaked as if he’d been caught in the rain.

“I…”

Trying his best to calm his trembling body, Hyun-seok spoke.

“I will keep that in mind, Commander.”

***

After the meeting with Hemis.

Returning to Bobo’s house, Hyun-seok sighed.

“Whew…”

The conversations with Hemis quickly flashed through his mind.

“Hemis knows I’m a hero. And she knows how quickly heroes can grow.”

“Yes.”

“Yet she gave me a month until the duel. I wonder why?”

“Maybe because she wants you to get stronger and win the duel?”

Hyun-seok nodded at Rachel’s words.

“That’s not entirely wrong. I’m probably an interesting toy to Hemis right now. She’ll want me to survive longer.”

“That’s good then!”

“No. It’s not good at all. It’s actually dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Do you know what’s the most interesting situation in sports?”

Rachel tilted her head at Hyun-seok’s sudden question.

“The most interesting situation?”

“Yeah. There are many, but personally, I find it most enjoyable when there’s an upset.”

Hyun-seok was a professional MMA fighter.

But before being a pro fighter, he was also an ardent fight fan.

“When you watch matches every day, there comes a point where you get tired of it. This applies to any sport.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s predictable. The same person keeps winning. Of course, watching a star’s journey is enjoyable in itself… But there’s something even more interesting.”

“Is that the upset?”

“Yes. Unexpected developments. Underdogs. The birth of new stars.”

“Ah! I understand what you mean.”

Rachel nodded as she spoke.

“So you mean something fresh is more interesting than something predictable?”

“Simply put, yes.”

“But what does that have to do with our current situation?”

“I said it earlier, right? That I’m an interesting toy to Hemis.”

“Yes.”

“Then from Hemis’s perspective, what do you think would be the most interesting scenario?”

“That’s…”

Rachel made an expression of sudden realization.

Hyun-seok nodded.

“It would be me winning a match that I should have no chance of winning. In other words…”

“She’s setting up a fight that you’re meant to lose.”

“Exactly. From the start, Hemis is going to force me into a fight that I absolutely cannot win.”

Hyun-seok was certain.

Hemis had said it herself.

‘Didn’t I tell you? I knew you were a hero from the start. Do you think someone like me wouldn’t know about a hero’s extraordinary growth rate?’

Despite knowing how fast heroes could grow, Hemis gave him a month.

Why?

The answer was simple.

She had designated an opponent that would be impossible to defeat even with a month’s worth of growth.

Yet paradoxically, Hemis wanted Hyun-seok to win.

Purely for entertainment.

Seeing Hyun-seok defy expectations and win would bring Hemis the greatest pleasure.

“When I think about it this way, all the puzzles fit together.”

He felt like he was finally solving the doubts he’d had all along.

Why did they accept a human like him into the Demon King’s Army so easily?

Why, after accepting him, did they assign him as Bobo’s caretaker, which was practically a death sentence?

Why were they so interested in the movements of a mere human like him?

The answer to all these questions became clear.

“They just needed a new toy.”

A toy that could be broken at any time without consequence.

That was Hyun-seok’s current position.

Hyun-seok clenched his molars.

“This won’t do.”

“Then what are you going to do now?”

“For now, I need to keep hunting and growing stronger. But before that, there’s something I need to do.”

“What is it?”

“Information gathering.”

Hyun-seok opened the hero shop.

“Simply leveling up won’t be enough. We need to know what kind of person Kurken is. How strong he is. What techniques he uses.”

Hyun-seok continued with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

“The most important thing to do before a match is analyzing your opponent. There’s a saying that knowing yourself and knowing your enemy leads to victory in every battle, right?”

“Hero, you seem kind of cool today.”

“Really?”

“Yes! For the first time, you actually seem like a smart person!”

“I really wish you hadn’t said that…”

“So Hero! How are you planning to gather and analyze the information?”

“I have something in mind for that.”

Hyun-seok opened the hero shop.

Then he went to the ‘Items’ section and bought something.

“This is it.”

“What is this…?”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at the item Hyun-seok had bought.

“Combat Power Meter.”

“What…? A Combat Power Meter…?”

Hyun-seok nodded with a confident expression.

“We’ll gather information with this.”

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