Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad-Chapter 7
At the central plaza of Hemorn Fortress.
Choi Hyun-seok was doing physical training with 3,000 slaves.
“Match the cadence! One! Two!”
While it appeared quite energetic at first glance, in reality, Hyun-seok’s mind was filled with worry.
‘I need to start combat training soon…’
Initially, he had them do formal drills and sing military songs just for show in front of Reidrun.
If he suddenly started combat education, it would obviously raise suspicion, and he needed to increase work efficiency first.
The plan was to gradually increase education time as progress showed, and secretly mix in combat training…
‘Why is he so interested!?’
Reidrun watched Hyun-seok’s training every single day.
“It’s okay! He’ll lose interest soon!”
“Right? That’s how it’ll be!”
Hyun-seok and Rachel predicted his interest wouldn’t last long.
Reidrun was a high-ranking officer in the Demon King’s Army.
What entertainment could there be in watching slaves train?
But unfortunately…
“Excellent. Excellent!”
Reidrun was genuinely enjoying it.
It wasn’t just a passing interest.
His attention to morning training grew stronger with each passing day.
He started actively offering opinions to Hyun-seok, and now he even moved his office to a location overlooking the training ground (plaza).
At this rate, combat training was just a dream.
‘Ah… What should I do…’
Hyun-seok rubbed his face with his hands.
‘I guess the only good thing is that my Charisma stat keeps increasing…’
About ten days since starting the training.
During that time, his Charisma increased by 8 points to reach 20.
His Leadership ability also rose from F-rank to E-rank.
But this alone wasn’t enough to satisfy him.
Hyun-seok’s goal was rebellion! A coup d’état!
To overthrow the bull-headed Reidrun and take control of this fortress.
‘No. Calm down. I shouldn’t rush things. Take it slow, step by step…’
Just as Hyun-seok was continuing his thoughts.
“Waaaaaah…!”
“Kyaaaaya-!”
A commotion could be heard from afar.
“What’s that?”
“What’s happening?”
The slaves’ atmosphere became unsettled.
Hyun-seok clapped his hands to gather attention.
“Everyone focus! Training isn’t over yet!”
Whatever was happening, it probably had nothing to do with slaves like themselves.
For now, focusing on training was the right thing to do.
Just as he thought that.
“Choi Hyun-seooook-!”
A massive shout that made the fortress shake rang out.
Turning around, he saw the large-bodied Reidrun running at an incredible speed.
It was such a terrifying speed that dust clouds rose behind him like in a cartoon.
“Y-yes!?”
“There’s no time. We must leave the fortress immediately!”
Reidrun said while grabbing Hyun-seok’s wrist.
Hyun-seok’s eyes began rolling 360 degrees.
‘What is he suddenly talking about?’
What was this crazy bull-head saying?
Just then.
People in armor began running from afar.
“There he is! That’s the commander! The Red Nightmare Reidrun!”
“Regular soldiers fall back! Knights will handle him!”
Five heavily armored knights charged towards Reidrun.
Seeing this, Hyun-seok immediately understood the situation.
‘The human army has come!’
Though he didn’t know the exact circumstances, the human alliance forces had invaded Hemorn Fortress.
The fortress had fallen, and Reidrun was clearly trying to escape.
‘But why is this crazy bull-head trying to take me with him!?’
Hyun-seok carefully glanced at Reidrun from the corner of his eye.
‘What should I do? Should I strike him now?’
Hyun-seok hadn’t forgotten his first day at this fortress.
Reidrun showed no damage even after taking his head kick directly.
An incredible constitution.
And what about his strength?
Just from his grip alone, Hyun-seok’s ankle almost became crippled.
‘But I’ve grown stronger since then too. Plus, I have reinforcements this time.’
The five knights charging toward Reidrun.
Even at a glance, they were wearing heavy armor.
Yet they were moving at superhuman speeds.
They were clearly exceptional fighters.
‘I’ll watch for an opportunity to escape while the knights deal with Reidrun.’
He planned to shake off Reidrun and flee to the human side if possible.
At that moment, Reidrun suddenly disappeared.
Swoosh-!
It happened in an instant.
Reidrun had already reached the five knights.
Boom, Crack! Bang! Crash! Puhwa!
It happened too fast to see what occurred.
Just as Reidrun waved his hand, the armored knights flew like cannonballs.
“Uh…?”
Hyun-seok’s jaw dropped to the ground.
‘Th-they went through the wall…’
The people were smashed into the wall.
Not just smashed – they were driven through it.
Their armor exploded outward, and their once-proud bodies had long since been reduced to bloody pulp.
“Choi Hyun-seok. What are you doing? I said we need to go!”
Reidrun urged while shaking the blood off his fist.
The dazed Hyun-seok finally came to his senses and nodded.
“Yes! Lord Reidrun!”
As Hyun-seok ran out of the fortress, a single tear rolled down his eye.
***
It was a peaceful journey.
The air was clear, and all around were endless plains stretching to the horizon.
Several carriages were traveling along the road that followed the landscape.
The carriages were pulled by Drakhon, beast-horses with similar appearances to regular horses.
Clatter… Clatter…
In the quiet, only the sound of running Drakhon could be heard.
Hyun-seok sat alone in the cargo section of the carriage.
His eyes were unfocused, like those of a deranged person.
He had been staring at the sky for five hours straight.
‘I’m finished now…’
Hyun-seok let out a deep sigh.
A day had already passed since leaving Hemorn Fortress.
During that time, the human alliance forces had sent pursuit teams several times to catch Reidrun.
“There they are! We’ve almost caught up!”
The pursuit team galloped proudly on horseback.
Their numbers were around 100.
The few surviving Demon King’s Army soldiers could only tremble in fear.
Reidrun stepped forward alone.
“So you’re the Red Nightmare Reidrun.”
“Yes.”
“Today I’ll cut off your head to restore the kingdom’s prest- Kuahhh!”
The pursuit team commander who was going to cut off Reidrun’s head to restore the kingdom’s prestige.
He died with his head ripped off.
While still alive, at that.
The pursuit team froze at the sight…
And a massacre ensued.
The Red Nightmare Reidrun.
At that moment, Hyun-seok properly understood why Reidrun was called the Red Nightmare.
‘To think I tried to defeat someone like that… I must have been out of my mind.’
Reidrun was not someone humans could handle.
He felt foolish for trying to oppose such a being.
Hyun-seok gave a miserable smile.
‘Goodbye… Otherworld… Goodbye… Adventure… Goodbye… My second life…’
Hyun-seok had dreamed.
Going to another world to embark on a great adventure and becoming a hero who defeats the Demon King!
Then meeting a kind and beautiful blonde noble lady, having a sweet romance leading to marriage!
Having lots of rabbit-like children and building a happy family.
In his later years, spending time watching grandchildren play in a modest mansion – he had such grand plans!
“It’s over now…”
A hero who defeats the Demon King?
The reality was becoming a slave who couldn’t even handle one Demon King’s Army officer.
‘I’ll just be dragged around like this forever until I’m no longer useful, then get eaten.’
What blonde noble lady.
The only people he’d seen since coming here were fellow disheveled slaves.
“Haah…”
Just as Hyun-seok let out a sigh deep enough to sink the ground.
“Hero! Hero…!”
Rachel whispered while sitting on Hyun-seok’s shoulder.
“Snap out of it! Hero!”
“Call me slave, not hero…”
“Please snap out of it!”
Rachel raised her tiny hand and slapped Hyun-seok’s cheek.
Slap!
But Hyun-seok showed no reaction.
It would have been better if he had at least gotten angry.
“Uuugh…!”
Rachel trembled with clenched fists as she continued speaking.
“Hero! They say you can survive even in a tiger’s den if you keep your wits about you!”
“How do you even know that saying…”
“That’s not important right now! What I mean is, we can turn this situation into an opportunity!”
At the word opportunity, Hyun-seok’s head turned weakly.
“What opportunity…”
“We can properly understand the real situation of the Demon King’s Army. Once we escape later, it will surely be a huge help in becoming a hero…”
“Don’t talk about escaping!”
Hyun-seok grabbed Rachel.
“If you hadn’t sent me to the Demon King’s Army fortress in the first place, none of this would have happened!”
“…”
Rachel was taken aback by Hyun-seok’s words.
Her eyes darted around before she hung her head low.
“I’m sorry…”
“Huu… Forget it. What good does it do thinking about the past now.”
Blaming Rachel now wouldn’t change anything.
Hyun-seok muttered self-deprecatingly.
“Choi Hyun-seok. What’s the matter?”
Suddenly, a massive head reminiscent of a bull popped out.
It was the Red Nightmare, Reidrun.
“Nothing at all! Haha!”
Hyun-seok laughed brightly as if he had never been dejected.
“You look healthy. That’s good.”
“Of course! I’m dead without my health!”
“Good. We’ll arrive at the 3rd Corps headquarters soon, so I’ll be counting on you then.”
“Pardon…?”
Choi Hyun-seok made a dumbfounded expression.
‘Take good care’, he says. Of what?
Reidrun continued his explanation.
“Didn’t I tell you? You’ll be meeting the Corps Commander. We plan to formally induct you into the Demon King’s Army.”
As Reidrun spoke, honey was practically dripping from his eyes.
“Ah, uh, ah…”
Brain-frozen, Choi Hyun-seok could only babble incoherently.
“Is there a problem?”
Suddenly, Reidrun’s eyes turned fierce.
Choi Hyun-seok startled back to his senses.
“Ah, no! I was just so honored that I couldn’t help it! Hahaha!”
“I see! Kuhaha! As expected, you’re a man most suited for the Demon King’s Army!”
“Well, not as much as you, Lord Reidrun! Hahaha!”
“Is that so!? Hahahaha!!!”
For a while, the carriage was filled with the laughter of the two men.
***
At the same time.
The human alliance forces occupying Fort Hemorn were releasing the people who had been slaves.
“Citizens of the Kingdom of Mariet, please come this way!”
“This is the Drason Empire’s area!”
The atmosphere was quite chaotic.
Fort Hemorn had held as many as 3,000 captive people.
It seemed it would take quite some time to send them all back to their respective hometowns.
“Hmm… Where should I go?”
Park Tae-soo, Choi Hyun-seok’s fellow slave.
He fell into deep contemplation.
‘I can’t just suddenly claim to be a Hero, this is troublesome…’
There were nearly a hundred people in similar situations here.
The unfortunate ones who, despite being Heroes, had fallen into a Demon King’s Army fortress.
Just as they were gathered in one place, unable to move forward or backward.
A soldier approached.
“Are you all perhaps Heroes?”
The people’s faces brightened at the soldier’s words.
“Yes! That’s right!”
“Heroes, please follow me.”
The soldier guided the prospective Heroes.
The Heroes began to get excited with slightly flushed expressions.
“We’re finally going to be treated properly now, right?”
“Of course! We’re Heroes after all!”
“As expected! There’s no way we’d be treated like this!?”
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“If it weren’t for that Rachel girl, we could have lived comfortable lives!”
“Now things are finally moving like a proper other world!”
While everyone was excited and making comments.
Only Park Tae-soo maintained his silence.
‘Something feels off…’
Park Tae-soo was a man without any special abilities.
Yet there was one reason he managed to survive over 30 years of social life.
He was good at reading situations.
Whether at work or in society.
He had an uncanny sense for knowing which strings to pull to survive and climb up.
‘The atmosphere is strange.’
Park Tae-soo’s instincts rang alarm bells.
That this path was like a rotten rope.
If he tried to climb it, the rope would break and he would fall.
‘Being careful never hurts.’
Park Tae-soo carefully slipped away from the line.
It was to observe the situation for a moment.
Due to the chaos, it wasn’t difficult to slip away.
‘I’ll follow secretly and join later if things look okay.’
The prospective Heroes continued to move following the soldier’s guidance.
Finally, they arrived at an open space.
There were many heavily armed knights and soldiers.
In the middle was an elderly man.
Orlaben Grimier, Duke of the Drason Empire and Commander of the Allied Forces, greeted the Heroes with a welcoming face.
“Welcome, Heroes.”
Commander Orlaben stepped forward.
“May I ask, is there anyone here who is not a Hero?”
The Heroes shook their heads at Orlaben’s question.
“We all came here as Heroes.”
“I see.”
At that moment, Orlaben showed a twisted smile.
“Begin.”
Begin what?
The question didn’t last long.
Swoosh-!
Arrow rain poured from all directions.
“Kyaaah!”
“Kuhek, kek! Save me!”
The Heroes tried to escape but it was impossible.
The soldiers had already blocked all escape routes.
“Kuuerk…! Keuk…”
“Kuhek…”
The hellish scene ended in an instant.
Before one could finish drinking a cup of tea, all Heroes were dead.
The soldiers showed thoroughness by stabbing the fallen people’s chests one by one to confirm their deaths.
They seemed quite familiar with this.
It didn’t look like their first time.
“Commander. All have been eliminated.”
“Good. There weren’t any who escaped, right?”
“They had originally gathered all Heroes in one area of the fortress for management. No one should have slipped away.”
“Is that so? Those Demon King’s Army bastards can be useful sometimes. Hahaha.”
Commander Orlaben laughed heartily as if truly enjoying himself.
And watching him from afar, Park Tae-soo trembled like an aspen tree.
‘Wh-what is this!?’
He needed to escape from here.
The moment they heard he was a Hero, he would die.
‘If I could just rejoin the line…’
Just as Park Tae-soo was carefully returning.
A soldier blocked his path.
“Ah, are you perhaps a Hero?”
“Ye-yes!? No, I’m not!”
A flustered Park Tae-soo frantically waved his arms.
“That’s strange. Black hair means you’re either a Hero or a demon race. Are you perhaps of the demon race?”
Suddenly being called a demon race, he was no such being.
Park Tae-soo shook his head while keeping his mouth firmly shut.
“Then you must be a Hero! Please follow me. We’re giving special guidance to Heroes.”
“Ah, no…”
The soldier’s face was filled with an irrefusable kindness.
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