Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad

Abelson Mariette.

As the next Holy Maiden of the Holy Empire Gatren, she had become Choi Hyun-seok’s dedicated healer.

It couldn’t be helped.

Only Abelson could heal Hyun-seok here.

Thanks to this, she could closely observe Hyun-seok’s training.

“Kheuk!”

“Uweek!”

Hyun-seok took absolutely brutal beatings.

Vomiting blood was a daily occurrence, and he crossed death’s threshold several times a day.

As befitting the next Holy Maiden, her healing power was among the best on the continent, so there was no problem.

“Um…”

The interesting thing was Hyun-seok’s reaction.

Even while nearly dead, he would chat every time he received treatment.

“Sorry about last time…”

“I’m Choi Hyun-seok…”

“What’s your full name…?”

“Was your hair silver since birth…? It’s not dyed, right…?”

“Do you like taking walks…?”

“You’re really beautiful… Do you hear that often..?”

Even while hovering near death from Reidrun’s beatings, Hyun-seok kept spouting nonsense.

Though Abelson ignored him at first, she eventually surrendered to his persistence.

“Abelson Mariette.”

“Yes, my hair was originally silver.”

“I like walks.”

“You’re really pathetic.”

She wasn’t friendly with Hyun-seok.

Her answers were short, and sometimes she said things that could hurt him.

Yet Hyun-seok remained unchanged.

Whatever he found so pleasing, he would grin while receiving treatment, then leave to get beaten again.

Soon after, he would return all battered and spout more nonsense.

Time passed like this, and 3 days later.

It was the night before the duel.

“Um… Miss Abelson.”

After training ended, before returning to their rooms, Hyun-seok approached her.

“As you know, I have an important fight tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Could I ask for one favor?”

At the word ‘favor’, Abelson’s expression hardened.

She remembered how Hyun-seok had suddenly asked for a kiss during their first meeting.

Seeing her expression, Hyun-seok realized his mistake and frantically waved his arms.

“Ah! It’s not about kissing or anything like that!”

“Then what is it…?”

“Could you say one prayer to that fellow called God for me?”

“Prayer?”

“Yes. Just a simple prayer.”

Hyun-seok grinned as he continued.

“I’m not going to resent them now for sending a fake hero like me to the Demon King’s Army…”

“…”

“Just ask them to let me survive tomorrow without dying. Please make sure to convey that.”

Why was it?

Hyun-seok’s smiling face looked so pitiful.

Abelson had no choice but to say she would.

“Is that all you wanted to say?”

“Ah! There is one more thing… But I’ll tell you that after the duel tomorrow. Hahaha!”

For some reason, Hyun-seok’s face turned bright red and he laughed awkwardly.

“Alright.”

“Hey! If it’s okay, would you come watch tomorrow?”

“…I’ll think about it.”

Abelson could only give an ambiguous answer.

She was a prisoner of war.

She wasn’t in a position to move around freely as she wished.

“Yes! Then get back safely.”

Hyun-seok turned around coolly, as if that answer was enough.

Watching Hyun-seok’s retreating back, Abelson became lost in thought.

‘Prayer… How long has it been?’

It had been a very long time since she had prayed to God.

“…”

Abelson turned around after pondering for a moment.

A smile unconsciously escaped from her lips.

‘A promise is a promise.’

Praying isn’t such a difficult task.

Returning to her room, Abelson knelt down and clasped her hands together.

Hoping that God would respond to her call after such a long time.

***

The next morning.

The day of the decisive battle had dawned.

“Ugh… My whole body aches.”

Choi Hyun-seok frowned while patting his body.

Due to the intense training, his body was in tatters with pain everywhere.

‘But I’m not nervous.’

Surprisingly, his mind was calm.

His condition wasn’t bad either.

The pain in his body was proof of the harsh training.

In other words, it meant he had become stronger.

With newfound confidence, Hyun-seok checked his status window.

“Let’s see…”

▫Name: Choi Hyun-seok

▫Title: Hero Candidate

▫Level: 200

• Strength: 80
• Agility: 77
• Stamina: 81
• Magic Power: 80
• Charisma: 27
• Bonus Points: 0

▫Hero Points: 450

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

▫Skills: Reidrun-style Fighting Technique

The status window hadn’t changed much from before.

His level remained at 200.

Thanks to the intense training, only his magic power and stamina had increased slightly.

Nevertheless, Hyun-seok was certain he had become stronger than before.

The decisive change lay in aspects beyond the stats.

‘Magic Control and Reidrun-style Fighting Technique. With these, I’ve become stronger than before.’

Magic Control is exactly what it sounds like – the ability to utilize magical power.

It’s the most basic technique for strengthening the body with magic and producing greater power.

It was essential for exhibiting superhuman strength.

‘And the Reidrun-style Fighting Technique…’

This was the first skill he obtained thanks to Reidrun’s guidance.

This was what could truly be called a secret technique.

Hyun-seok checked the detailed description of the Reidrun-style Fighting Technique.

□ Reidrun-style Fighting Technique

‧ Proficiency: 8%

‧ Description: A dynamic martial art consisting of 10 forms.

‧ Background: A martial art that Reidrun modified based on the ‘Cowden Fighting Technique’ passed down in the Cowden clan. It pursues overwhelming power to subdue opponents.

After reading the description again, Hyun-seok nodded with satisfaction.

‘The proficiency is still low, but that’s okay.’

What mattered was that he had learned and could use martial arts.

As Hyun-seok was contemplating when to use the martial art.

“Hek, Hef!”

Bobo approached and rubbed against his head.

Hyun-seok smiled warmly at this display of affection.

“Kid. Do you know it’s an important day too?”

“Kwang!”

“Yeah, yeah. Your big bro will crush it and come back.”

Bobo’s loud bark seemed like he was saying ‘Good luck’.

Hyun-seok patted Bobo’s head and got up.

“Preparations are complete.”

He would absolutely not lose.

The blonde noble lady.

No, the silver-haired saint was within arm’s reach.

‘If I win this time, I’m asking her out on a date.’

Walking through the vast Black Star Fortress with Saint-to-be Abelson.

Just imagining it made him happy.

“Let’s go! For love!” Motivation charged to 200%.

***

There are no ranks in the Demon King’s Army.

There are only positions.

Therefore, the Demon King’s Army can only be divided into two categories.

Regular soldiers and commanders.

The method for determining commanders is the ‘Commander Selection Battle.’

The process for conducting the Commander Selection Battle is simple.

Challenge the desired opponent to a duel, and upon victory, take their position.

While brutally simple in a way fitting the Demon King’s Army, it was an equally definitive method.

“A human doing a Commander Selection Battle! Ridiculous! Kahaha!”

“Kik! If Orc Kurken loses, I’ll take the platoon leader position!”

At the main parade ground within the 3rd Corps.

Thousands of Demon King’s Army soldiers had gathered here.

Not just regular soldiers, but even high-ranking commanders were present.

The reason was Corps Commander Hemis.

She had extensively promoted the Commander Selection Battle between the human Choi Hyun-seok and Orc Kurken.

A human becoming a commander in the Demon King’s Army.

That alone drew crowds of interested spectators like clouds.

“So that’s the rumored Choi Hyun-seok.”

“The human favored by the Corps Commander?”

“Favored? He’s just the Corps Commander’s entertainment…”

On a platform at one side of the parade ground.

High-ranking commanders of battalion and regiment level were seated there.

They had to come if only to understand what their superior intended by orchestrating this event.

At the center of this strange excitement.

Hemis, who could be called the instigator of all this, was calmly observing the situation.

“How do you think it will go?”

“I think Choi Hyun-seok will win.”

“Oh ho~ Really?”

Hemis’s massive lips curled upward at Reidrun’s response standing beside her.

“There wasn’t much time. Did he prepare well enough?”

“Both I and Hyun-seok did our best.”

“Not everyone becomes stronger just by doing their best.”

“…Hyun-seok has talent surpassing anyone else. He’ll definitely win.”

“Reidrun.”

“Yes.”

“Want to make a bet with me?”

At the mention of a bet, Reidrun turned his head to look at Hemis.

There was an eerily bright smile on her lips.

“A bet…”

“A bet on whether Hyun-seok or Kurken will win. If Hyun-seok wins, I’ll allow you to continue teaching him.”

“What happens if he loses?”

At that moment, Hemis licked her massive lips.

“You kill Hyun-seok with your own hands.”

“…”

Reidrun fell silent.

Numerous thoughts crossed his mind.

One… Two… Three…

Before three seconds passed, Reidrun opened his mouth.

It would be dangerous to delay any longer.

“Understood.”

Hemis smiled as if pleased that the answer wasn’t late.

“Good. Then let’s see what cards each has prepared! I can’t remember the last time my heart pounded like this. Ohoho!”

Hemis laughed while slightly covering her mouth with her hand.

In contrast, Reidrun’s expression remained stern.

He looked at the front with a dark expression.

‘The Corps Commander must have done something. What could it be…?’

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, his concern was soon resolved.

“Woaaaaaaaaah!”

With tremendous cheering, today’s protagonist, Orc Kurken, appeared.

Seeing him, Reidrun let out a small sigh.

‘He’s swallowed demonic energy…’

Kurken’s demonic energy had increased explosively in a short time.

It was obvious whose demonic energy it was without saying.

‘That’s dangerous.’

Orc Kurken now possessed demonic energy beyond what he could handle.

He probably struggled just to maintain his sanity.

Even if he won this duel, there was a high chance his body would collapse and he would die.

‘To go this far…’

Reidrun unconsciously looked at his superior.

Meeting his gaze, Hemis twisted her lips.

“Reidrun. No backing out?”

“…Understood.”

He had no intention of backing out of a bet with the Corps Commander.

Unless one was suicidal, that wouldn’t happen.

Now all Reidrun could do was believe.

In the man who fit the Demon King’s Army better than anyone.

‘You must win! Hyun-seok…!’

***

“The Commander Selection Battle for the 1st Platoon Leader position of the 3rd Corps Direct Special Forces Headquarters Company will now begin.”

Unusually, this Commander Selection Battle had an announcer.

Even amidst the commotion, the demon’s voice carrying the proceedings came through clearly.

It was a simple voice projection magic.

“Sniff! Sniff! Start already!”

“Kuaaah!”

Cheers erupted that could shake the parade ground.

In the middle of it all, Hyun-seok was steadying his breathing.

‘I’m nervous.’

His earlier confidence felt like a lie.

His body trembled slightly from tension.

It couldn’t be helped since his life was on the line.

‘It’s okay. I’m used to tension.’

Hyun-seok had competed in numerous matches on Earth.

In terms of scale, he had fought in much larger arenas than this.

For him, tension was rather familiar.

“Phew…”

Hyun-seok cleared his mind while slowly exhaling.

At that moment, his opponent Kurken walked over from the opposite side.

Hyun-seok’s face wrinkled at the sight.

‘What is that?’

Something was wrong with his opponent Kurken.

Hyun-seok had definitely spied on Kurken a few days ago.

But now Kurken had transformed into a completely different orc from then.

“Kruk… Kuu…”

Dark red light flowed from his eyes, and black mist-like substance leaked out with every breath.

“Woaaaaaaaaah!”

The beast let out a roar.

His voice, filled with magical power, thundered across the grounds.

‘That’s some fierce magical power.’

The beast’s magical power far surpassed his own.

Hyun-seok could tell immediately since he could now handle magical power himself.

He put on the Combat Power meter he had brought just in case.

Hyun-seok’s eyes widened instantly.

[Combat Power: 10,573]

“Holy…”

The number of digits had changed completely.

Kurken’s Combat Power when previously checked was around 6,600.

But in just a few days, it had exceeded 10,000.

Hyun-seok sensed it.

‘That lip monster must have pulled some trick!’

It was certainly Hemis’s doing.

There’s no way such a power increase could happen in just a few days otherwise.

‘Can I win?’

Hyun-seok’s current combat power was 3,655.

Comparing simple numbers, there was nearly a threefold difference.

Hyun-seok clenched his fists.

‘I have no choice but to try.’

Combat Power was merely a numerical representation of abilities.

In reality, Hyun-seok had become much stronger through days of grueling training, but his Combat Power had barely increased.

In other words, Combat Power wasn’t an absolute measure of strength.

So you never know until you fight.

‘I believe I can win. I must believe!’

In the ring, everything starts with believing in yourself.

Hyun-seok knew this from long experience.

“Platoon Leader Selection Battle! Begin!”

Finally, the duel began.

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