Chapter 311

2.

As the scenario began.

Just like the last book, the story in between flowed in.

The events that happened after Will ran away from the village.

After that, perhaps Will's impression of mercenaries improved after seeing Seonghyun and Barbaros.

Or perhaps it was because he had nothing else to do.

He lived as a mercenary.

At first, when a boy said he wanted to be a mercenary, he was only ridiculed.

But when he showed his disguised black magic.

He couldn't help but be treated as a mage.

Because even though it was black magic, there were many things that looked like general magic.

It was written in the book Helena had given him.

“It would have been nice if I had learned these spells beforehand…”

Such regrets also flooded in.

If he had learned such magic first.

Would the story have been a little different?

Such things happened because he learned necromancy first, but.

The regret was brief.

In the end, if the villagers had realized it was black magic, it would have been the same, and he didn't know how long he could have hidden it.

It was a truly unfortunate event, but.

What could he do.

He had to overcome it and live.

And so, Will lived on steadfastly.

How much time had passed since then?

When he had shed his boyishness and become a young man.

Such news reached the ears of the mercenary Will.

“I heard there's a demon subjugation?”

“Demon subjugation?”

“Huh? You live without even hearing such stories?”

“What is it? Tell me quickly!”

The other mercenaries talking like that.

Will also focused on that story.

“They say a den of demons was discovered in a territory not far from here. A subjugation force was formed to crush that place on a large scale.”

“Huh. It's a chance to earn money!”

“But what's suspicious is that there are also black mages who have stepped up to exterminate those demons!”

“Huh!? Are they traitors to the demons?!”

“I don't know about that, but anyway, they say they are leading the subjugation.”

Hearing that story, Will's fists clenched.

Demons!

And black mages who took the lead to subjugate such demons.

Hearing that story, Will could immediately think of Helena.

His master, who had taught him that black magic and demons were different.

That's why Will approached those mercenaries and asked.

“Where is that territory?”

“Oho? Are you planning to go there too?”

“Youth is indeed good!”

While saying that, the mercenaries immediately told him and demanded a referral fee.

Will handed over the referral fee as if it were a matter of course.

In the world of mercenaries, this much was a given.

And so, Will headed to the territory where the subjugation was taking place.

To take revenge on the demons who had changed the perception of black mages, including himself, in this way.

No, it wasn't something as grand as revenge.

“I'm just going to vent my anger.”

Saying so, Will headed to that territory for the subjugation.

The video ended there, and after watching the entire video, Seonghyun and Barbaros spoke briefly.

“So the revenge was talking about the demons.”

“I see.”

“As expected of Will. His kindness is his downfall.”

Seonghyun also agreed with those words.

Then, although he didn't know where the territory with the subjugation force was.

He was feeling a little uneasy.

“A territory of the Rieskan Kingdom.”

“Why, is there something that bothers you?”

“No.”

At Barbaros's words, Seonghyun hid that fact.

In fact, since this was the Rieskan Kingdom when Helena was still alive.

It was possible that it had no connection with the demons.

Seonghyun shook his head, thinking it was probably nothing.

Let's just focus on the subjugation for now.

As he spoke with that mindset.

Barbaros also nodded, saying he understood.

Well, Barbaros also didn't have anything particularly important besides books.

He wasn't particularly curious.

If it was going to come out in the content anyway, he would find out this time.

As they decided to proceed.

The surrounding scenery changed in an instant, and they were gathered in a large square where the subjugation force was gathered.

“There are more people than I thought.”

“I know, right.”

Both were a little bewildered seeing so many people as soon as they were instantly transported.

A subjugation force of this size.

For now, looking at the pass-like thing held in their hands, it seemed that everyone was indeed part of the subjugation force.

Just then.

Seonghyun looked around, but there were no familiar faces yet.

Whether it was Will or a figure from the past.

For now, he decided to let it go.

Then, he could see someone climbing onto a stage-like place standing in front of the large square.

“Oh, someone's coming up.”

“It seems to be the knight order of the Rieskan Kingdom, in charge of this subjugation.”

“I heard that black mages are also participating, what's going on?”

“Hmmm, weren't they a tribe associated with demons?”

At those words, some people flinched, seeing which.

They seemed to be black mages, and only Seonghyun saw that and chuckled.

Unfortunately, Barbaros did not see those who flinched.

It seems that there are many people living in hiding in this era.

'Well, the demons must have been so resentful.'

Because such rumors spread, linking them all to the demons.

It was plausible to think that if stories of black mages defeating demons spread, things might get a little better.

So, the demon subjugation could certainly be called revenge.

As Seonghyun thought so and looked around, he looked at the knight standing in front of the large square.

He began to shout as if opening a departure ceremony.

“I am Kairo, the commander of the Sol Knights of the great Rieskan Kingdom!!! I have stood before you to lead this subjugation force!!!”

After that, it was the obvious stories.

Commonplace stories about everyone having courage and relying on each other for the expedition.

It was such a cliché story that even Barbaros, who loved stories, was a little bored, but.

In the part about the demons that followed, Barbaros's eyes shone as he listened.

To summarize the story, there is a mine located about a two-day journey from here.

And he relayed the story that the demons had settled there.

The story that for some reason, the demons were planting their hearts in that mine and plotting something.

This information was given by the black mages, and the story of how they came to fight together with them.

Seonghyun listened and nodded his head.

'It's true that the black mages reported it.'

If they were determined to conceal their demonic energy, it would be extremely difficult to notice.

It seems that the black mages happened to notice it and reported it.

And it seemed they had joined the subjugation force.

However, since it was under the supervision of the Rieskan Kingdom.

It was a little suspicious.

In fact, wasn't it the Rieskan Kingdom that killed Helena using insidious methods even in this era?

Because they were the petty ones who had colluded with other magic towers.

He couldn't let his guard down.

And so, the departure ceremony ended.

And everyone prepared for the expedition.

The number was a whopping several hundred.

The exact count was said to be over 700.

“There are really a lot of people.”

It wasn't a large group of over a thousand people, but.

It could be said that individuals who could each be called elite had gathered.

That's why no one was worried.

Also, since it was inefficient for all these people to go.

They were divided into teams of about 50 people each.

They were divided into a total of 15 teams, and Seonghyun and Barbaros were able to belong to team 3.

Since the teams were distributed based on their outwardly visible skills.

They could see that they were placed in a higher team than expected.

Just as they were moving, belonging to team 3.

“…Huh?”

Such a sound was heard from behind Seonghyun and Barbaros.

And as if it were a matter of course, Seonghyun and Barbaros turned their heads as soon as they heard the voice.

And as expected, a familiar face was there.

Will, who had now almost completely shed his boyishness and could be called a young man rather than a boy, was there, and Seonghyun and Barbaros greeted Will with a smile.

And just like they had met last time.

They greeted him with the same reaction.

“Long time no see.”

“Have you been well?”

At Seonghyun and Barbaros's words, Will approached them as if to hug them with a slightly choked-up expression and said.

“Hyungs…”

For the two of them, it had been less than a few hours.

But for Will, several years had passed.

That emotion was clearly felt.

The two of them looked at Will, patting his back and saying.

“You must have gone through a lot.”

“I know, right.”

“...No. I've been well. It's thanks to you, hyungs.”

Looking at Will who said that, Seonghyun and Barbaros smiled warmly, thinking he had grown up well.

It seemed that it was set up for them to be on the same team as Will.

“Since we're on the same team, shall we go together?”

“...Is that okay? I am…”

Will said so at Barbaros's words.

Will, who hesitated as if the wound still remained.

And looking at Will, Seonghyun smiled slyly, opened his hand, and made darkness rise.

Seeing that, Will's eyes widened like saucers, and he swallowed hard.

The power Seonghyun showed was none other than black magic power.

Since Seonghyun hadn't shown black magic directly before.

It was as good as the first time Will had seen it.

Looking at the surprised Will, Seonghyun said.

“What do you think, is it okay to go together?”

“...Of course.”

Will answered as if choked up at Seonghyun's words, and Seonghyun nodded his head.

And so, they came to travel with Will, and time was skipped in the middle.

Watching that, Seonghyun and Barbaros smiled as if it were a bit of a relief.

“It seems it didn't last for several days.”

“I think so too. It seems to be two days at most.”

Seonghyun replied to Barbaros's words.

He was glad that time was skipped, but.

Watching it flow normally in between like this, Seonghyun carefully observed his surroundings.

Wondering if he was missing anything.

Just then.

A strange conversation was heard from somewhere.

“Hey, do you know why the demons gathered in the mine this time?”

“Hmm? You mean you know the reason?”

At those words, Seonghyun was also inwardly curious, so he carefully approached, and Will and Barbaros also approached the vicinity as if curious.

Since they were resting from the march, they were listening intently in a temporarily set up tent.

The voices of the people chattering outside were heard without any filtering.

“Have you ever heard of the Demon King that the hero Hindel is chasing?”

“Ahh! The Demon King. You mean that red-haired witch?”

“Yes, yes, I don't know her name well, but they say she's the main culprit.”

“Huh?! Is that why the name Demon King came about?”

At those words, Will's body trembled for a moment.

As if he knew it was Helena.

However, he was holding it in for now, and Seonghyun also listened intently.

“So there was a story that Hindel-nim almost participated in this subjugation force.”

“Huh?! Is that so? But where is Hindel-nim?”

“They say the Demon King ripped out an entire mountain and disappeared a few days ago. Hindel-nim went to pursue her, I think? And while at it, they say he's having a meeting with our Rieskan Kingdom's prince and the sword saint of this era, Lord Giorden.”

“Oho?! This is a great fortune for our kingdom.”

At that story, Seonghyun tilted his head as if it were strange.

The story of ripping out a mountain must be the story of the Valley of Despair.

And hadn't he heard directly from Hindel when he experienced the past that he had gone to the Rieskan Kingdom to save the knight?

But something is strange.

'Rumors are spreading here that Helena summoned the demons?'