Balkin thought.
‘The only person who knows whether Hestia is alive or dead is the <Black Wolf> standing right in front of me.’
Of course, there was a high probability that even this information was false, but it needed to be confirmed accurately.
‘If I kill the Black Wolf like this, I’ll just end up living the rest of my life clinging to some useless hope.’
There was an option to find out after killing him, but the opponent was <Black Wolf>.
The complete annihilation of the Sewers.
The complete annihilation of the fanatics.
The intimidation of the Emperor and the assassination of Hestia.
These were the sorts of things that couldn’t be attempted with just any amount of power and yet were accomplished by those monsters without any loss.
‘Even if I asked Marin for a post-mortem information-gathering magic ritual, it’s uncertain if it would work.’
Balkin quickly arrived at a decision.
‘Getting information while keeping him alive is the only sure-fire method.’
A judgment and decision made by Balkin not as the Hero Balkin, but as a human who had lost his family.
Confirming whether Hestia was alive or dead was more important than wiping out the enemy in front of him.
However, Gardner had overlooked one thing, and that was the existence of another ‘Hero’.
“What do you think you’re doing, Balkin?”
The existence of another Hero who acted in a manner devoid of emotion, resembling a beautiful machine or doll.
Because Balkin knew her better than anyone else, he could anticipate her next move immediately.
‘Asha will continue the attack.’
The Champion of Light – Asha Mirabel.
While Gardner, Selena, and Marin each upheld missions such as world peace, the prosperity of their race, or the acquisition of new knowledge, Asha had only one mission.
‘The annihilation of evil.’
She moved as if nothing else mattered, so it was clear this time too that the eradication of <Black Wolf> and <Black Wolf group> would be her top priority.
Clang,
Clank.
Balkin gripped his shield tighter, placed the Black Wolf behind him, and lowered his voice.
“I’ll handle it, so go back, Asha.”
Upon hearing Balkin’s attitude, Asha, with her sword resting on her shield, hesitated.
‘Ian Red said it.’
Hestia was undoubtedly alive.
Captured by <Black Wolf>, she breathes somewhere.
But if <Black Wolf> and <Black Wolf> are left unchecked?
Current situation.
The Gardner main force is neutralized.
Most of the reinforcements are mercenaries.
‘Mercenaries have loose lips, so rumors will spread.’
Rumors that even the valiant Hero Party struggles against <Black Wolf>.
Of course, most of this content is false information fabricated by distant onlookers, but that’s precisely why it’s more dangerous.
Rumors without substance exaggerate and exact a price that only the parties involved have to bear.
‘The current empire was already decaying due to the Emperor’s tyranny, but it’s worsened due to the appearance of <Black Wolf>.’
And if rumors start that the <Hero Party> is weakening?
‘Our party will lose its power as a deterrent.’
Once the party’s influence is overshadowed by the infamy of Black Wolf, the empire will be destroyed.
Thus, Asha Mirabel had to prioritize carefully.
‘Though I too would like to confirm Hestia’s life first…’
“It doesn’t matter. Lady Hestia is undoubtedly alive.”
Ian Red.
Hadn’t that kind and upright man vouched for this with his life on the line?
‘… He was not someone who would lie. Let me trust without doubt.’
If she had kept her alive, disguising it as death, certainly there was a sound reason.
Why would Black Wolf keep Hestia alive?
‘… To exchange for the heavenly protective barrier?’
The lack of information prevented precise speculation, but one thing was certain.
‘There is no chance Hestia will die within the next ten seconds.’
Then,
‘I will annihilate <Black Wolf> within 10 seconds and then find Hestia through Marin.’
Having thought it through, Asha subtly signaled toward Balkin with a venomous look.
‘I have a plan, help me, Balkin.’
The signal carried this meaning, but Balkin, misunderstanding the intent, furrowed his eyebrows.
“So, you want to stop me? Then let’s kill them together.”
“…?”
That’s right. This is Balkin.
Though he had seemed to awaken his intelligence due to anger over Hestia’s fate, it was just Balkin being Balkin.
Therefore, Balkin thought:
‘If she interferes, she plans to kill me along with Black Wolf! I must kill her before that!’
Meanwhile, Asha thought,
‘… So typical of Balkin.’
At that moment, a sense of futility washed over her, and the edge of her holy sword dulled. Balkin did not miss this opportunity.
“Hmph!!”
Clang!!
The holy sword and the shield that had been interlocked flew apart due to Balkin’s one-sided misunderstanding.
As Balkin leaned forward to prepare for a charge, Asha corrected her holy sword that had flown off, and in the fleeting moment, the two heroes’ eyes met.
──ZZZANG!!!!
The once-intertwined shield and the sharp holy sword clashed a second time.
While holding back the showers of the holy sword like a downpour, Balkin shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Gardner’s shield is the world’s best!! It will never break against any power!!!”
“It’s already… over. There’s no point in continuing this conversation.”
The savage charge of Balkin and Asha’s weapon, resigned to futility, now targeted each other.
BAM!!
The shields that looked like buckles on each of their hands demonstrated their ultimate destructive power.
…Slippery.
The sword, which seemed to have countless afterimages, bent like water and repelled every attack.
A battle between monsters that had surpassed even S-rank, so rapid it was difficult even for a warrior’s eyes to follow.
Though only five seconds had passed, hundreds of exchanges had already taken place.
Thus, the mercenaries were baffled.
“…Why are the two of them fighting?”
“Isn’t that obvious, you fool!! Look, Black Wolf can’t even move!!”
“Heroes really are different!! Black Wolf can’t even move…!!”
Though their knowledge was limited, they were merely talking based on what they saw. Nonetheless, it seemed that the situation that Asha had worried about wouldn’t happen.
However, it wasn’t just the reinforcements watching the situation.
“…”
A shadowy man,
A man radiating fearsome killing intent turned his head slightly as though annoyed by the mercenaries’ words and lowered his gaze.
Simultaneously, some of the black aura emanated and wrapped around the mercenaries’ bodies.
Mercenaries.
These were experts in survival, risking their lives for the next day.
The moment that aura touched them, several individuals who had until now remained silent began waving their hands and stepped back.
“!! Wait, wait!! It wasn’t me!! I didn’t say anything!!”
“Who!! We never dared to mention that name!! No, we didn’t!!”
“Who!! Who had the audacity to mention that name in the first place!!”
Statements that would attract the reproach of House Gardner once this ordeal ended. However, the gathered mercenaries shared a common thought:
Why fear?
If we die together,
what’s the point?
The gaze of the B~A ranked mercenaries, who shrank in fear, gathered towards those who were cheering on the hero.
“Hey, you crazy bastards!! Can’t you keep your eyes off it?! Are you even comrades!?”
“Comrades? Screw that!! We’re not even mentioning that name, are we!!”
“Yes!! The mistakes are on them!! Why are we all going to die together?!”
Frightened by the Black Wolf’s gaze, the mercenaries pushed out two individuals who had dared to mention <Black Wolf> into the open.
“Damn it, damn it!!!”
The stout mercenary who fell first quickly knelt down and pleaded.
“Oh, oh, it’s a misunderstanding!! Someone else egged me on!! What’s wrong with you, man!? Get on your knees and beg now!!”
A shadow of unease flickered over Luna’s furrowed brow at the rough pulling of another figure.
– Everyone, don’t be afraid!! The strongest among the Top 10 of the continent, Lord Huang Long has come to protect us!! Yes…!!
-A new hero is born!!
The man who instilled hope in the people during the Central Plaza incident.
“I do not wish to beg for my life from such an evil person, for I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“This guy’s serious!!”
“Also, everyone seems to have a misunderstanding. Our Mud Mercenaries did not come here seeking charity. We came to do work as we’ve been paid.”
A refreshing scent of grass and fresh mud emanated from the smiling man, Mud.
“Therefore, I will lend a hand in the extermination of the super-criminal, <Black Wolf>.”
The only man among the mercenaries who didn’t retreat, Mud shook off their hands and stood tall.
‘…I’m scared.’
If Lord Huang Long was radiant and warm, this man named Black Wolf was dark and cold.
Externally, I feel crushed like a dot. Internally, I feel shaken up and nauseous.
Standing against him means death.
Not standing against him also means death.
Just standing here like this… I…
‘…am going to die.’
As he reached the conclusion of death, regrets for what he hadn’t attained flooded his mind.
‘If only I had the strength of Lord Huang Long.’
Or if I were sharp like Lady Asha,
As strong as Lord Balkin,
As wise as Lady Marin,
As tenacious as Lady Selena.
If I had just one of the powers of the heroes, I could have been of some small help…
‘No. Pull yourself together.’
His lips stretched wide as if they would rip, awakening him through the intense pain.
‘Even if I die here, we still have the heroes… Especially the new hero, Lord Huang Long.’
If I die here, but through that death manage to gather some information,
‘It will be a great help to Lord Huang Long.’
The brilliant golden light.
Through it, Mud overcame his fear of death and aimed his longsword at Black Wolf.
“Come down, Black Wolf!! And face the vengeance of our fallen comrade, Loren!!”
Even if it is a small death within a great event, my sacrifice will surely be worth it.
2.
Nahan was impressed.
The novel had portrayed Balkin as completely dull-witted, but it seemed this was even beyond that.
“Gardner’s shield is the world’s best!! It will never break against any power!!!”
“…”
Rather, this portrayal was underwhelming.
‘Well, at least it has made things easier for me.’
The clash between Balkin and Asha.
The current situation was unfolding according to Nahan’s plan.
‘Asha had confirmed Hestia’s survival through Ian Red, but Balkin would believe she was dead.’
Thus, if someone told him that she’s alive—just giving part of the information in a sly way—
‘He won’t kill until he hears the rest.’
On the other hand, Asha was different.
She already knew Hestia was alive through ‘Ian Red.’ Unlike Balkin, she wouldn’t be manipulated by the enemy and probably intended to find Hestia herself only after the enemy’s destruction.
Hence, it was anticipated.
‘Black Wolf that Balkin sought to save, and Black Wolf that Asha sought to kill.’
Clashes between them were inevitable. Unlike the out-of-control Balkin, it was predicted that Asha would intervene enough not to kill Balkin.
‘The ultimate skill, <Judgment>, was already used, so Asha cannot overwhelmingly overpower Balkin.’
Then?
“Gardner’s shield is the world’s best!! It will never break against any power!!!”
“… a little.”
Asha would never convince Gardner before the battle. This battle between them wouldn’t end.
Although Balkin had the physical abilities of a hero, he was simple and rude. Meanwhile, Asha, who seemed emotionless, didn’t reveal her inner thoughts.
Thus, they clashed with different thoughts, and unless Balkin’s misunderstanding was resolved, breaking the deadlock would be difficult.
“Gardner’s shield is the world’s best!! Not breaking against any force!!!”
“… out of order, but whatever.”
“Hell no!! Your attitude of not even listening to others is wrong, Asha!!”
… Gah, it’s too noisy.
I felt like I was getting as stupid.
To clear my head and have a look around, I slightly turned my neck.
“…!”
“…!!”
“………!!”
What’s that guy doing over there?
The mercenaries were watching while keeping their distance from Hanlyang, who seemed to wait for them to come, while they murmured noisily.
“…!”
“…!!”
“………!!”
I can’t hear what they’re saying.
Frowning in irritation, some of the killing aura leaked out, making a few mercenaries panic, and two came forward.
One stout mercenary fell flat on his knees and begged while another familiar mercenary glared at him.
‘Who are these two?’
What is it?
Have humans scared of us and the Hero split into factions?
Are the stout-looking hostage willing to hand himself over to Hanlyang hoping they might survive?
… hostage?
As I considered this idea that crept into my mind, pondering how to materialize it,
The sound of footsteps came.
A vaguely familiar man stepped forward, aimed a longsword at me, and shouted.
“… ra … lang!!! … lyo!! …!!!!… da!!!”
Huh.
Of course, I couldn’t hear.
However,
‘… Hostage drama. Quite good, isn’t it?’
This thought inspired me with a good idea.
‘One by one, slowly.’
Having reviewed the plan once more, Nahan turned around confidently.
“Balkin Gardner, Asha Mirabel. Cease the battle immediately or I will kill Hestia.”
