Chapter 20

“Maintain an alert.”

Upon Jo Han’s command, the soldiers belonging to his battalion lowered their postures and assumed a defensive stance.

“Have we entered Draconis’s territory?”

Seo Woojin asked Jo Han in a hushed tone.

“Yeah. From now on, we need to act as discreetly as possible.”

Draconis’s territory is vast.

Thanks to this, it was not easy to find its gigantic body, which was 10 meters long.

So, this reconnaissance was necessary.

“How long does it usually take to locate Draconis?”

“If you’re lucky, you might find it within an hour or two.”

“…And if luck isn’t on our side?”

“Maybe by tomorrow?”

The margin of error seemed too significant.

“Don’t worry too much. However, due to my accumulated experience in subjugation, I usually find them within a few hours.”

If Jo Han said so, it must be true.

He was a veteran among veteran soldiers.

“What if we find it?”

Facing the creature with just one battalion was impossible.

“We retreat immediately.”

Then, they would regroup with the main force for the subjugation.

“But couldn’t a knight order be enough to subdue Draconis?”

Didn’t they fight the creature with just three knights before?

“That was possible because it was outside its territory. Draconis within its territory is different.”

“How so?”

“Firstly, there will be other monsters.”

“…Other monsters?”

“The title ‘Overlord Monster’ isn’t just for show.”

Draconis, in reality, dominated numerous monsters in its territory.

“It means we can’t just deal with it alone, like before.”

Moreover, its number and ferocity were more threatening than any monster they had faced so far.

“Oh, excluding the Ice Bugs.”

Upon hearing that, Seo Woojin remained silent.

Jo Han continued to explain, regardless of Seo Woo-jin’s reaction.

“Besides, this is the creature’s backyard. It knows the terrain, of course, but it’s also adept at using terrain features, weather, and time for ambushes.”

Charging forward without looking around is something one does when they’ve stepped out of their own territory.

“Indeed, the difficulty has certainly increased.”

“Exactly. Becoming stronger doesn’t mean you can afford to be complacent.”

‘Complacent?’

At Jo Han’s words, Seo Woojin let out a bitter laugh.

Did he have the luxury to be complacent with the current monster battle ahead of him?

Even if he had become stronger, it was still the same.

After the battle with the Ice Bug, Seo Woojin completely erased the word “complacency” from his dictionary.

‘I can’t afford to repeat such a mistake.’

Jo Han nodded as he observed Seo Woojin’s expression.

Honestly, dealing with Draconis wasn’t that dangerous.

In the past, there were considerable losses, but after accumulating information and establishing tactics, there were hardly any casualties among the Heros.

Still, Jo Han instilled a lot of fear in Seo Woojin.

He wanted to tease him a bit, and there was a genuine warning not to be complacent.

“No need to worry about that. I am now…”

“Hush!”

Jo Han raised his finger, silencing Seo Woojin.

It was a sudden move, but Seo Woojin understood his intention.

“So soon?”

There was no doubt they had discovered Draconis.

Jo Han cautiously pointed in one direction.

Turning his head along with his finger, a black silhouette came into view.

Although it wasn’t clear due to the considerable distance, it was clearly Draconis.

“Let’s return now.”

Jo Han unfolded the map, marked it, and carefully stepped backward.

Draconis’ vision was exceptionally keen, so noticeable movements had to be avoided.

But not everything went as smoothly as expected.

“…Damn.”

Jo Han spat out a curse.

Draconis, which had clearly been facing the other way, was now looking in their direction.

They were discovered.

It wasn’t due to someone’s mistake or error; it was just a stroke of bad luck.

“Prepare for battle!”

“Captain!”

The soldiers were shocked and called for Jo Han.

Engaging in a one-on-one battle with Draconis with only a hundred people? 

That was akin to suicide.

But there was no other choice.

Fleeing from him at this point was impossible.

Rather than everyone escaping, it was better to send one person as a messenger and let the rest buy time.

No, they had to do it that way.

“I’m begging you.”

Jo Han’s gaze was directed straight at Seo Woojin.

“What are you talking about?”

“Go to the main base right now and inform them of what’s happening here.”

“I refuse.”

Seo Woojin firmly shook his head.

The strongest person here was him. He had grown to the point where he could be compared to a high-ranking knight, so naturally, he had to stay.

“There’s no time to argue! Go to the main base immediately…”

“Enough.”

Seo Woojin interrupted Jo Han.

Then, he unsheathed his sword.

The blade, as dark as if it were forged from the night sky, revealed itself.

Seo Woojin’s eyes were fixed on Draconis.

He had clearly spotted this side and was rushing towards it as if possessed, intending to retaliate against the intruders.

“I’m telling you because I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

Seo Woojin pointed his sword at Draconis and spoke.

“If I stay, everyone will survive.”

* * *

“Scouting, you say?”

Irene asked, as if questioning the validity of the statement.

“That’s right. Seo Woojin left this morning with the 4th Division for a scouting mission.”

TesteronTesteron’s expression distorted, just like Irene’s.

“You didn’t know, did you?”

“I haven’t heard anything.”

“This damn guy…”

Testeron’s expression crumpled even more at Irene’s response.

“I’ll have to go see the Lord. You gather the soldiers waiting at the main base for now.”

He doesn’t know what he’s doing, leaving Irene alone.

‘Seo Woojin!’

Irene left to carry out Testeron’s orders.

“No matter how much he has grown….”

Irene acknowledged that Seo Woojin had grown. 

Not long ago, he was someone who didn’t know how to properly wield a sword, but now he was at a level to rival a senior knight.

At least, Irene acknowledged that he had become stronger than herself.

But that didn’t mean Seo Woojin was on the level of Testeron or Gerard. 

Even though those two hadn’t yet mastered the aura they possessed, their experience was unmatched.

Yet, why was he acting alone like this?

In this northern region, where anything could happen at any time?

Even with veterans like Jo Han and the soldiers of the 4th Division by his side, it couldn’t help but make Irene uneasy.

If something happens while you’re out on reconnaissance?

“We need to find him before it’s too late.”

Irene’s face was filled with worry.

It wasn’t just because Seo Woojin was a Hero entrusted to Sion.

Comrades.

It was because she acknowledged him as a comrade and a colleague who had been fighting for nearly a month.

‘Please, let nothing happen….’

Irene earnestly prayed in her mind.

*  *  *

‘Oh, this isn’t good.’

Jo Han thought as he looked at Seo Woojin’s back.

A Hero must not die here.

This time, 100 people were summoned, so it wasn’t the sole hope as before, but still, wasn’t there a bond built up until now?

He wasn’t born in Sion, he didn’t swear to bury his bones in the Massive Guardian.

So somehow, they had to send Seo Woojin back to the main base.

But Seo Woojin refused.

‘If only I could send him back by force….’

Now, even by force, it was impossible.

He had become so strong that even if all of his hundred men attacked him, they couldn’t win.

Unable to persuade Seo Woojin, Jo Han reluctantly chose a fast-footed soldier as a messenger and sent him back to the main base.

Because if they delayed any longer, it seemed like no one would be able to leave this place.

“I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.”

Seo Woojin’s voice seemed calm, as if he either knew or didn’t know his own worries.

“If you escape now, the Hero will be able to survive… … .”

“It’s okay.”

Seo Woojin said with a smile.

Draconis had now approached closely.

Amidst the approaching aura, which was becoming increasingly intense, to see such a smile was unsettling.

Jo Han realized once again that Seo Woojin had changed a lot.

‘Was it from that day?’

Seo Woojin had changed.

He took the lead in battles more than any knight or soldier, throwing himself into combat without sparing his life.

No, it seemed like he wished for death.

Even now.

While the soldiers would all likely die if they tried to escape slowly, Seo Woojin was different.

With his physical abilities, it might be possible for him to survive and reach the main camp.

Yet, a dilemma remained.

“It’s coming.”

Thinking there was still some time left, Draconis suddenly lunged right up to them.

“Raise the shields!”

Jo Han gave immediate orders to the soldiers.

“Hmph!”

With the tense sound of the soldiers’ battle cries, a sturdy barrier formed.

‘Let’s see how it goes this time.’

Blocking that guy’s charge was probably the limit.

‘You’ll die the second time.’

Jo Han swallowed his saliva.

Even though he had long been prepared for death, when it was actually looming in front of him, his body trembled.

“Prepare for the collision!”

“I’ll go first.”

Ignoring Jo Han’s attempt to encourage the soldiers, Seo Woojin stepped forward.

“Wait a moment!”

Kwaang-!

A thunderous noise erupted.

It was the result of a collision between a monster spanning 10 meters and a sword that looked like a toothpick.

The shock caused the snow that had piled on the ground to fly up, creating a dense fog in the air.

“What happened?”

In the momentarily obscured view, Jo Han opened his eyes and examined the front.

Seo Woojin probably hadn’t been struck in a single blow.

He possessed the skill of a high ranking knight, so he should have been able to block at least a few attacks…?

“Phew.”

In the flurry of snow, the sound of Seo Woojin’s sigh could be heard.

And then, his voice followed.

“You’re not as strong as I thought, huh?”

Revealing himself, Seo Woojin blocked Draconis’s charge with a single sword handle, not budging an inch from his position.