Chapter 50

 

The first day passed without any significant crises.

 

Thanks to Kang Byung-gyu, meals were quite satisfying, and the battles weren’t too dangerous.

 

Despite concerns about stamina, the Heroes, fortunately, surpassed human limits.

 

With excellent stamina recovery, a brief rest was enough to refresh tired minds.

 

The same held true for the next day.

 

Although slightly stronger monsters appeared than on the first day, Seo Woojin’s team still had room to spare.

 

However, it was different from the third day onwards.

 

“Ice Javelin!”

 

With Jin Tae-seong’s shout, a large ice spear pierced through the chest of the black bear.

 

Whether it was a critical hit or not, the black bear couldn’t endure any longer and fell with a final cry.

 

“Heuk, heuk-!”

 

However, Jin Tae-seong didn’t seem to be in good condition either, despite attacking from the rear. 

 

He was out of breath.

 

That meant…

 

“Kyaa! Mister!”

 

Suddenly!

 

At the same time as Lee Ji-ah’s scream was heard, Seo Woojin’s sword cut off the black bear’s head.

 

“Damn, there are too many!”

 

Harsh words began to flow from Yu Hong-seol’s usually composed mouth.

 

‘This is dangerous.’

 

The situation was not good.

 

The black bear wasn’t a particularly strong monster. 

 

It was stronger than the wolf-shaped monster that appeared on the first day, but according to Seo Woojin, the difference wasn’t significant.

 

However, the battle continued too continuously.

 

Without even a moment to rest.

 

‘Isn’t this a monster wave?’

 

A monster wave that occurs when they don’t carry out suppression operations in the north.

 

This meant that if the number piled up and eventually exceeded the limit, monsters would push into the Massive Guardian.

 

Seo Woojin had never seen it personally, but wasn’t the current situation somewhat similar?

 

‘I’ll somehow endure it, but…’

 

Others weren’t the same.

 

It is true that they also have outstanding strength.

 

If we consider only ability, it would actually be higher than Seo Woojin.

 

However, they don’t know how to handle it efficiently.

 

This is because they haven’t undergone thorough training like Seo Woojin.

 

Thanks to that, there was a waste of unnecessary power, and ultimately, they hit a limit.

 

Both physical and magical strength.

 

‘What should I do?’

 

The situation is not favorable.

 

But if you were to ask Seo Woojin if it’s a crisis?

 

‘That’s not the case.’

 

Seo Woojin has never used a skill even once.

 

He has only faced monsters with his swordsmanship.

 

This means that Seo Woojin’s magical power is still abundant.

 

‘If I use a few skills, I can easily overcome the current crisis.’

 

There’s no need for anything grand. 

 

Using ‘Acceleration’ and ‘Aura’ should be enough.

 

Because the black bear will never be able to block Seo Woojin’s sword using the skill.

 

However, he hesitated to use the skill.

 

It wasn’t because he simply didn’t like attention.

 

No matter how much Seo Woojin is reluctant to do it, he is not at the level of ignoring a dangerous situation when a colleague he has been with for several days is in danger.

 

It was simply because he knew that they could grow by experiencing such situations.

 

He had experienced it himself.

 

‘Besides, there are knights watching over there, so it won’t be that dangerous.’

 

They would intervene like Irene did in a life-or-death moment.

 

‘Okay, let’s watch a little longer.’

 

Although it was a bit pitiful to see them struggling with gasping breaths, he decided to make them suffer a little more.

 

“Haahap!”

 

With a shout, Lee Ji-ah’s fist struck the black bear’s body.

 

‘Did she run out of magical power?’

 

Lee Ji-ah’s fist, which had been constantly using skills over and over again, no longer spewed fire.

 

She began to attack with pure strength and speed.

 

Nevertheless, the black bear received enough impact.

 

Of course, it was weaker than when using a skill, but it was enough for the black bear.

 

Bubbubuk-!

 

The bear’s huge body burst open with a simple punch.

 

“Huh?”

 

Lee Ji-ah looked puzzled when she saw what she had done.

 

She hadn’t thought that a simple punch without a skill would be effective.

 

Yu Hong-seol, who had seen it, faced the black bear only with her sword without using any skills.

 

And she wore a look of realization.

 

‘Now everyone knows.’

 

They had spent too much magical power dealing with a monster of this level.

 

Even though it wasn’t necessary to use it.

 

The only ones in the team who needed to use skills were Kim Da-hye and Jin Tae-seong.

 

Their attacks couldn’t be effective without using skills.

 

But Lee Ji-ah and Yu Hong-seol were different.

 

With their physical abilities, they could have torn apart the black bear barehanded.

 

‘But realizing that now is too late.’

 

Too much stamina had already been depleted.

 

If they had any magical power left, they would have been able to fight comfortably, but now even that is gone.

 

‘Well, at least now they know.’

 

Only on the third day.

 

For the remaining four days, all we have to do is fight a more efficient battle based on what we learned today.

 

A smile appeared on Seo Woojin’s lips.

 

Was this how Van Slaine or Irene felt when they looked at him?

 

It felt satisfying to see the Heroes growing little by little.

 

‘Well, I haven’t directly taught them anything.’

 

It was true that it felt good.

 

‘But let’s stop here.’

 

Now it really seemed like the limit.

 

The attacks of Kim Da-hye and Jin Tae-seong no longer continued, and Kang Byeong-gyu’s support also ceased.

 

Moreover, blood began to seep from the bodies of the two women engaged in close combat.

 

Seo Woojin glanced at the direction where the knights were standing.

 

But they still showed no signs of stepping forward.

 

It seemed like they had no intention of coming forward unless they were really close to death.

 

‘If I push harder, tomorrow will be difficult.’

 

Or they might drop out.

 

Seo Woo Jin decided to intervene and activated his skill.

 

“Aura, Acceleration.”

 

The sword burning with magical power moved through the air at an invisible speed.

 

Slice!

 

With a short tearing sound, the remaining black bears collapsed.

 

It was all thanks to the combination of the two skills.

 

“Ah, mister?”

 

Lee Ji-ah looked at Seo Woojin with a shocked expression.

 

The other Heroes had similar expressions.

 

Honestly, they hadn’t noticed until now that Seo Woojin hadn’t used his skills.

 

They were all fighting well in their own right, so it was only natural to assume that Seo Woojin was also engaging in combat using his skills.

 

But now, it turned out to be completely different.

 

“Did you fight without using your skills all this time?”

 

Yu Hong-seol’s voice trembled.

 

She seemed quite surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

 

“I didn’t fight without using them.”

 

Seo Woojin shook his head.

 

After all, there was no reason to go easy on monsters in the first place.

 

“I’m doing this because I think it might help you all. Isn’t that right?”

 

The last question was directed at Lee Ji-ah.

 

Lee Ji-ah, who had been staring wide-eyed at Seo Woojin, nodded in surprise.

 

“Yes! It really helped, just as you said!”

 

Lee Ji-ah understood Seo Woojin’s intentions accurately.

 

Hadn’t she realized it clearly towards the end of the battle?

 

“Hong-seol, I’m sure it was the same for you.”

 

As Seo Woojin spoke with a smile, Yu Hong-seol could only nod in agreement.

 

“…Impressive.”

 

Yu Hong-seol genuinely admired him.

 

She already knew that Seo Woojin was strong beyond his class and level.

 

While there were undoubtedly some who refused to acknowledge it, they were in the minority.

 

Most of the Heroes were aware that Seo Woojin’s skills were exceptional.

 

But they didn’t expect it to be to this extent.

 

“Let’s start by clearing the area. We might as well check for the smell of blood; more monsters might be coming.”

 

“Oh, yes!”

 

Although tired, there was work to be done.

 

If the monsters that had caught the scent of blood came back, this time it could be a real disaster, as Seo Woojin had warned.

 

The weight of the black bear was significant, but the group could easily clear the battlefield.

 

Compared to fighting, lifting heavy things was nothing.

 

After cleaning up the surroundings and eliminating the smell of blood, they entered the house.

 

“I want to take a shower….”

 

Lee Ji-ah, covered in blood, pouted.

 

However, unlike the first day, there was no time to wash up now.

 

They had to focus on recovering their stamina and mana as quickly as possible.

 

Knowing this well, Lee Ji-ah only grumbled a bit without forcing the issue.

 

“How on earth are you so strong? D-rank, right? Oh, I’m not disrespecting you.”

 

The one who asked a question that others couldn’t bring themselves to was Kang Byung-gyu.

 

He quickly added a follow-up, perhaps afraid that Seo Woojin might misunderstand.

 

Of course, Seo Woojin didn’t pay much attention to it.

 

“Just got used to it.”

 

“Used to it? This?”

 

Kang Byung-gyu looked at Seo Woojin with an expression of disbelief.

 

“Have you been to a battlefield or something?”

 

Otherwise, how could this be something someone got used to?

 

“Similar.”

 

It was like a joke, but Seo Woojin nodded.

 

The northern subjugation was practically a battlefield.

 

He had overcome numerous life-threatening situations, faced countless deaths, and shouldered an equal amount of burdens.

 

It was an unimaginable hell for a Hero who only ate meals prepared by knights.

 

“Similar….”

 

Not only Kang Byung-gyu but everyone stared at Seo Woojin.

 

“Then what about those scars from back then?”

 

Lee Ji-ah and Kim Da-hye had seen the scars on Seo Woojin’s whole body.

 

Now, thanks to leveling up, everything that happened back then is gone and no longer exists, but what they saw at that time was so serious that it was amazing that Seo Woojin was alive.

 

“I gained some from subjugation back then, and I gained some later through training.”

 

Among the scars, many were carved by Van Slaine.

 

There was pity in Lee Ji-ah’s eyes as she looked at Seo Woojin.

 

Seeing that, a laugh came out.

 

“I don’t regret it because I got stronger. Rather, I’m thankful.”

 

Whether it’s soldiers, the Blue Shield Knights, or Van Slaine.

 

There was so much he received from the Massive Guardian.

 

At that time, I couldn’t really feel it properly, but seeing other Heroes here, I could be sure.

 

It means that the path I walked was not wrong.

 

‘Even so, I think I’m pushing it too far.’

 

I still grind my teeth when I think about Van Slaine.

 

“Rather than talking about this, the most important thing is to get some rest. You should rest whenever you have some free time.”

 

Seo Woojin turned the topic of conversation and urged his team members to take a break.

 

However, Kang Byeong-gyu looked at Seo Woojin with a desperate expression and asked, “How can I become strong like you?”

 

From their perspective, it was a perfectly reasonable question.

 

But Seo Woojin didn’t have a definite answer to give.

 

“Just continue like today….”

 

Pyyu-woo-woong! Bang!

 

At that moment, a strange sound suddenly reached Seo Woojin’s ears, preventing him from finishing his sentence.

 

“A signal flare?”

 

Everyone simultaneously rushed outside.

 

Then, red smoke embroidered the sky, a color indicating an urgent rescue request.