Chapter 35

 

“Why on earth are you taking that guy with you?”

 

Seong Yura complained.

 

Upon which, Park Jinhan the ‘Admantite Warrior’ chuckled and laughed.

 

“Why are you making such a fuss again? Has that man done something wrong to you?”

 

“Fuss? What a fuss! It’s just annoying to drag around someone who won’t be of any help anyway.”

 

Baek Siwoo laughed bitterly at her words.

 

His closest friend had this kind of personality.

 

If something seems to be lacking even just a little, they look down on it and ignore it.

 

It seemed like she wanted to boost her self-esteem with such behavior.

 

‘Just when it seemed like you were getting a little better.’

 

After being summoned to this world, it seemed to worsen again.

 

Perhaps it was because of the visible ‘Class’ like grades and levels.

 

“Yura.”

 

Baek Siwoo called Seong Yura, who was grumbling.

 

“What? Why? What do you want?”

 

Did she anticipate nagging?

 

Seong Yura reacted sharply.

 

‘If I say something now, no one can stop her.’

 

If he said something now, it was clear that her pride would be hurt, and she would come out even more toxic.

 

Not wanting to fight for no reason, Baek Siwoo shook his head.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

“Hmph!”

 

Seong Yura snorted and made a cold expression.

 

She wasn’t a fool either, so she probably caught on to why Baek Siwoo called her.

 

“But Siwoo, seriously, why did you call that man?”

 

Kim Taejin, the owner of the profession ‘Fire Mage,’ asked as he played with flames with his fingers.

 

Other friends also looked curious.

 

“Just because. He feels a bit different from others.”

 

It meant there was no particular reason.

 

However, his friends accepted it.

 

In fact, although they were friends, Baek Siwoo was implicitly taking on the role of leader among them.

 

He was more talented than anyone, diligent, and even had a good personality…

 

He wasn’t playing pranks or opposing the idea of adding another D-class guy.

 

“If he becomes a hindrance, I’ll just smash him with a crucifix. So don’t stop me.”

 

Of course, Sung Yura was an exception.

 

“Yeah, yeah. Do as you please then.”

 

Baek Siwoo responded with a smile.

 

But deep down, he didn’t think that Seo Woojin would be a hindrance.

 

‘That movement at that time.’

 

His friends didn’t see it as they were engrossed in conversation, but he saw it clearly.

 

The scene where Lee Jin-ho’s face crumpled by a fist thrown out casually.

 

It was certainly an insignificant movement.

 

The speed wasn’t that fast, and it was just a simple punch without any magical power.

 

But Baek Siwoo felt chills.

 

‘Could I have blocked it if it were me?’

 

He simulated it in his mind several times.

 

And the conclusion he reached.

 

‘I couldn’t have blocked it.’

 

Even he, an SSS-class, couldn’t block a D-class punch.

 

Especially in a situation where the level difference was five times.

 

Baek Siwoo couldn’t understand it.

 

‘Of course, if we fought, I would win.’

 

Even if he were hit by that punch, it wouldn’t have had any impact.

 

Still, Baek Siwoo continued to be concerned about Seo Woojin.

 

That’s why he wanted to see it again properly in this subjugation.

 

Who Seo Woojin was exactly.

 

And how strong he was.

 

* * *

 

“I’m going to get punched in the face.”

 

Seo Woojin sighed.

 

The gaze of Baek Siwoo felt uncomfortably intense.

 

“I really don’t understand why he’s like that.”

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Irene, who was walking beside him, suddenly asked Seo Woojin, who made a seemingly random comment.

 

“No, it’s nothing.”

 

He didn’t want to be misunderstood by saying that he was receiving warm glances from a guy.

 

‘If there’s anything worth paying attention to about me, it’s probably just that.’

 

The day he punched Lee Jinho in the face.

 

Baek Siwoo had asked him to punch him once as well.

 

If it wasn’t his preference, then he must have felt something in that punch.

 

‘But I didn’t do anything in particular.’

 

As he explained at the time, he just raised his fist and hit his nose.

 

What was curious about this simple action?

 

Swish, swoosh, swish!

 

Seo Woojin threw punches into the air.

 

It certainly didn’t seem like a gesture worth paying attention to.

 

“What have you been doing since earlier?”

 

Irene frowned and asked again.

 

“Just, um, I have something to check.”

 

Certainly, it must have seemed strange from the side.

 

Suddenly muttering to himself or throwing punches into the air.

 

It wasn’t the kind of behavior you’d expect to see in the middle of a subjugation, Seo Woojin smiled awkwardly and decided not to think about it any further.

 

Somehow, Baek Siwoo’s gaze seemed even more intense.

 

“How many do you think there are?”

 

In response to Seo Woojin’s question, Irene calculated for a moment and immediately answered.

 

“Based on the information obtained from each group, I would guess there are at least 500 or more.”

 

“…That many?”

 

“That’s the minimum estimate. It might even be a large horde.”

 

Large horde.

 

It means a place where over a thousand monsters are clustered.

 

Even in the northern, the Massive Guardian, he had never seen such a place….

 

“Is this kind of thing possible within Empire territory?”

 

The Empire is a country stronger in security and military power than any other country on the continent.

 

Even ordinary bandits would find it hard to come across, but a thousand monsters?

 

Even though they are just goblins, it was not an ordinary situation.

 

“Of course not. It could be a sign of the Demon King’s advent, or perhaps it’s a planned occurrence.”

 

Certainly, there have been many unusual phenomena observed when the Demon King descent approaches.

 

But planned? 

 

“By whom? The Empire?”

 

Could it mean they’ve gathered goblins like that for training the Heroes?

 

“No way. Even if it’s the Empire, they wouldn’t undertake such a venture at the risk of endangering the common people.”

 

“Then?”

 

“Probably… the likelihood of them being followers of the Demon King is high.”

 

What does that mean?

 

“You’re not saying that there are people who wish for the return of the Demon King, are you?”

 

Seo Woojin asked, but ‘no way’ was always a way of catching people off guard.

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

Black wizards, Demonic Races, Corrupt Nobles, and so on.

 

There were more followers of the Demon King than one might think.

 

“This time, it may have been the work of a different race.”

 

Irene whispered softly, calling them ‘Dark Elves.’

 

When it comes to Dark Elves, Seo Woojin knew them well.

 

After all, they were a race frequently featured in fantasy novels and games.

 

“They are the descendants of the elves who were unable to withstand the demon energy during the previous descent of the Demon King and were stained with it.”

 

‘Hmm, is that the setting?’

 

It seemed like a story he had heard before.

 

But the crucial point wasn’t the world-building explanation.

 

“Are these Dark Elves strong?”

 

If there weren’t just goblins waiting up ahead?

 

Dark Elves could also be waiting for the Heroes.

 

“They are strong, but there’s no need to worry too much. That’s why they sent so many knights together, taking that into account.”

 

When combining the knights from the Empire and other countries, it amounted to nearly 200.

 

Considering that even all the knights in Sion wouldn’t add up to 200, it was clear how formidable a force they had.

 

“Besides, with the presence of the Heroes, even if they are Dark Elves, they won’t easily reveal themselves. They tend to avoid fights with no chance of winning.”

 

Of course, most of those Heroes have now fallen.

 

“Do other knights know about this story too?”

 

“Of course. They probably already considered it before departing from the capital of the Empire. They might have become sure of it after arriving here.”

 

There was confidence in the involvement of Dark Elves, given the unexpectedly large number of goblins.

 

“Isn’t it risky to proceed like this?”

 

The power has been dispersed.

 

Even if we exclude the Heroes who have spread out, half of the remaining knights are here to protect them.

 

There were only 100 knights and 12 Heroes here.

 

‘I don’t know about a thousand goblins, but do you think we can take on dark elves?’

 

Seo Woojin, who didn’t know how strong they were, became a little uneasy.

 

“Unless the entire Dark Elf tribe is mobilized, we won’t be in danger.”

 

As if there was no way it could happen, Irene said firmly.

 

“Really? Well, that’s a relief.”

 

It seemed fine when Irene said it like that.

 

But, as she mentioned before,

 

Fate always found a way to catch people.

 

* * *

 

Looking down from a small hill, the goblin stronghold was indeed as Irene expected – a large one.

 

And it was nearly a stronghold with close to fifteen hundred goblins.

 

The knights had slightly tense expressions.

 

They realized that the situation was more serious than they had thought.

 

Irene felt the same way.

 

“There are too many.”

 

Goblins weren’t something to be afraid of.

 

Fifty knights could easily wipe out that number.

 

What worried Irene and the other knights was the dark elves.

 

To control that many goblins meant a substantial number of dark elves were involved.

 

“I think it might be better to retreat…”

 

As Irene murmured, mocking sounds came from behind.

 

“Is it because she’s a country bumpkin from Sion? Looks like she’s scared to death.”

 

“Chester!”

 

The surrounding knights tried to restrain him by calling his name, but he didn’t listen.

 

Instead, he raised his chin, wearing an even more arrogant expression.

 

“If you’re scared, just get lost. This place is enough for us alone.”

 

Chester continued to provoke Irene.

 

“…Is he from the Holy Kingdom?”

 

Armor as white as snow.

 

It was the symbol of the First Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom Aier.

 

“He does have some perceptive eyes.”

 

“Stop. What are you doing right now?”

 

The person who seemed to be Chester’s superior furrowed their brow.

 

But Chester paid no attention.

 

“Did I say something wrong? I’m sure everyone heard Sion complaining about the retreat. Are you telling me to just stand by and watch?”

 

The relationship between the Holy Kingdom and Sion was not good.

 

Especially, the Blue Wind Knights of the Massive Guardian and the First Holy Knights were known for their deep-seated animosity.

 

The surrounding knights coughed awkwardly, turning their gazes away at Chester’s words.

 

They, too, were bothered by Irene’s words.

 

If knights from the Empire or other kingdoms had mentioned a retreat, they might have reluctantly accepted defeat.

 

But not Sion.

 

They were a small country.

 

“Do as you please, then.”

 

Irene, seeming uninterested in arguing, stepped back one pace.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

At that time, Seo Woojin, who returned after being away for a while, felt that the atmosphere was strange and tilted his head.

 

It seemed as if everyone was blaming Irene.

 

However, she simply lowered her head, maintaining an expression that suggested it was nothing.

 

“Let’s discuss the strategy among ourselves, then. Tell Sion’s novices to sit tight without making a fuss.”

 

Seo Woojin furrowed his brow at Chester’s words.

 

With just that statement, he roughly grasped what had happened.

 

“Just leave it be.”

 

When Seo Woojin attempted to step forward, Irene grabbed his hand.

 

“It’s not a good time to step forward now. Instead of worrying about those guys, we need to think about something else.”

 

With Irene’s serious tone, Seo Woojin unconsciously nodded his head.

 

“Well, what is it?”

 

“If we attack like this, there will be significant casualties.”