Victory. And Apostle Han Doyun. 4

in vain?”

“…!”

The Vagabond Hero clamped his mouth shut, his eyes shooting wide open. His pupils trembled violently as if struck by an earthquake.

Quivering his lower lip and voice, the Vagabond Hero finally managed to speak.

“Truly…”

“Are you… Sir Razvolnic…”

Enoch faintly smiled at the Vagabond Hero’s wavering, fragile eyes.

Not a superficial, social smile shown to others, but a sincere one welling up despite his long-deadened emotions from ages of hardship.

“For accepting my name and will. For striving for the Alliance to this age. For protecting this world in my absence…”

Enoch placed his hand over the Vagabond Hero’s, riddled with scars, calloused like iron, and wrinkles.

“Thank you. Sir.”

“Ah… Ahh…”

Recorded in history yet more mythical than any figure since time immemorial.

The savior of all existences in the world.

The First Apostle. The First Razvolnic.

Such commendations and consolations from him… for the Hero Vagabond Hero who had devoted his life to the Alliance,

were truly… enough to make him feel he was dreaming, overwhelmingly moving.

“Oh… Ohhhh…”

He wept, hot tears dripping onto the sickbed as he groaned aloud.

Despite this supremely glorious moment, the Vagabond Hero could not utter a word.

For it was too glorious a moment. An inconceivably, unimaginably glorious moment he had never dared dream of, perhaps only fantasizing about as a naive, newly appointed Hero.

His chest swelled until his breath and throat were choked.

“Ohhhhh…”

“Thank you, truly.”

The Hero Vagabond Hero trembled, grasping the Hero’s hand on his own with both hands as he wept endlessly.

The Vagabond Hero. Age 81.

His life, stained with blood and battle, was rewarded in a single sentence.

+++

The Cradle, held every six months.

With the Cradle’s opening imminent, the Headmaster had been spending hectic days without respite.

“Haha! As expected of the Headmaster. Of course, after that incident, enhanced security measures are necessary!”

“Thank you for understanding.”

During the previous term, the Cradle had endured immense torment.

The Cradle must operate completely independent from all external power structures. However, six months ago, external pressures had forced it to open its doors in disgrace.

While unprecedented, that alone would have been a mild offense.

An assassination attempt by the Demon Lord’s forces against a Cradle student – a Boss Monster Killer, no less.

This had been a monumental incident for the Cradle, prompting the Headmaster to make thorough preparations to strengthen the Cradle’s security and independence, ensuring such occurrences never repeated.

Of course, as recompense for the previous incident, he had also extorted considerable ‘goodwill’ from the major guilds involved in the inspection team, who were now treading carefully.

“We too shall demonstrate our sincerity towards this Cradle’s expansion! Hahaha!”

“Thank you for Amaterasu’s donation.”

Just like now.

The Amaterasu Guild Master before him had also been part of the inspection team, incurring the Cradle’s ire. This was an occasion to restore friendly relations as compensation.

Amid their casual conversation, the Amaterasu Guild Master lamented,

“The war that broke out but thankfully concluded swiftly – that was the work of Apostle Han Doyun, a graduate from the previous term, wasn’t it?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“The military speculates this large-scale offensive was the Demon Lord’s forces’ response to the ‘One-Man Siege Weapon’ Han Doyun’s activities, causing the frontlines to shift northward.”

“Hooh…”

The Headmaster smiled faintly in apparent delight, murmuring his admiration.

Hearing of the exploits of memorable graduates, especially recent ones, was truly gratifying for him.

Doyun, in particular, held a special place.

“Back then, I knew I had to recruit that Boss Monster Killer by any means…”

“But no matter how formidable a Boss Monster Killer, no one expected such achievements within a year.”

The Amaterasu Guild Master sighed.

Apostles were elite forces. Especially promising recruits focused solely on honing their skills and gaining experience through expeditions for two or three years, never setting foot on the battlefield – they were too inexperienced, and Apostles’ lives were too precious.

Yet Doyun had begun rampaging on the frontlines a mere three months in. His debut feat of defeating the Tsunami Tamer was already legendary.

“Apostle Doyun likely didn’t participate in this war.”

“Probably not. He’s too valuable a force, and the battlefield was too perilous.”

Some had opined against overexploiting the young Apostle, but witnessing the extent of his protective detail on the battlefield quickly dispelled such concerns. The Alliance truly cherished and doted on him.

Naturally, both assumed Doyun had not joined this war.

“If I could turn back time six months… I still regret that day, pounding the ground in frustration.”

“Haha.”

It was no jest.

During the recruitment for Han Doyun, Amaterasu had been the last guild standing, feuding with World Tree until they bid 10,000 gold pieces.

Thus, whenever Doyun’s exploits were mentioned, their regret only deepened.

“In 20 years… no, 15 years, what miracles might that man achieve…”

“I truly have high expectations for Doyun. Perhaps around 30 years old, he might even defeat a Legion Commander…”

“As the most highly touted Boss Monster Killer of this generation, it’s certainly possible.”

Not merely humoring the Headmaster’s remark, the Amaterasu Guild Master too harbored considerable expectations for Doyun.

As the two conversed about Doyun,

Knock knock.

[Headmaster! Pardon the intrusion!]

An excited knock came from outside.

The Headmaster furrowed his brow at the familiar voice.

“The Combat Instructor?”

Why was he here instead of preparing for his class at this hour?

“Come in.”

Soon, the Combat Instructor burst through the door in a flurry.

“What has you so worked up?”

His face was alight with uncontainable fervor and excitement.

“Take a look at this!”

The instructor handed the Headmaster and Guild Master a bundle of newspapers.

Tucked amidst the freshly published papers was also an Alliance dispatch bulletin.

“Read the front page. Go on!”

Curious about what had the instructor so elated, the Headmaster accepted the papers and read them with the Amaterasu Guild Master.

And then.

“…Huh?”

“Ah, no…!?”

Their eyes shot wide open.

[The Dream of Defeating a Legion Commander, Realized!]

[At Last, the Most Formidable Existence Falls]

“This can’t be…!”

A monumental headline.

Damnation. Had the Alliance finally achieved it – the defeat of a Legion Commander?!

“That’s not the issue. Look below that!”

“Pardon?”

The Headmaster, still engrossed in the front-page article, asked as if he had misheard. What could possibly eclipse the defeat of a Legion Commander?

However, there it was…

“…Huh?”

“Un, Unbelievable…!”

[The First Legion Commander Killer and Boss Monster Killer: Six-Month Apostle Han Doyun]

An article that left them both aghast, jolting them from their seats.

+++

The retaking of Metapolis Fortress, recorded as an unprecedented victory in history,

sent shockwaves across the continent when the Alliance announced its details.

The demise of the newly emerged Legion Commander.

And at its forefront, the new paramount Apostle Han Doyun.

Initially, people were skeptical. No one believed the ludicrous claim that a six-month Apostle had led the defeat of a Legion Commander.

Who were the Legion Commanders?! Even as civilians unaffiliated with the military, the sheer terror invoked by that name was well-known. Such dreadful existences.

Yet one had fallen to a mere six-month Apostle?!

“There were two Heroes involved, they must have done the heavy lifting while he just tagged along.”

“For a six-month rookie, even just tagging along is impressive, isn’t it?”

“Well… I’ll admit it’s impressive. A prodigious talent, undoubtedly.”

Such skepticism was only natural and reasonable.

However, to corroborate this unbelievable announcement, the Alliance officially endorsed the rumors circulating across the continent.

The Third Boss Monster Killer – Apostle Han Doyun!

“…A Boss Monster Killer?”

“R, Really, another Boss Monster Killer has appeared in our generation?”

Accompanying the Alliance’s announcement, all media outlets dug into his background.

The long-simmering, now overly ripe rumors finally erupted. Witnesses who had previously only gossiped in taverns came forward.

All testimonies suggested Han Doyun’s identity as a Boss Monster Killer.

The talent scout Haineken, who had coveted him since the Cradle.

Brudhild, who had lent a collection-grade sword to a mere Cradle graduate.

The Vagabond Hero, secretly teaching him formidable, gate-shattering techniques behind everyone’s backs.

This inexplicable, excessive attention had all been support for this generation’s Boss Monster Killer.

“Wait. World Tree? The timing of this Apostle’s debut activities…”

“Huh? Could it be?”

Moreover, through the media’s zealous digging, the high-ranking Apostle who had hidden before revealing himself a few months ago – World Tree’s ‘Hidden Claw’ – was proven to be the same person.

Endless stories about Apostle Han Doyun poured forth, intensively reported by the media.

People gaped at his continually emerging feats.

Laying the foundations for the Vierlorn coup d’état.

Repelling the Satan’s Imp forces’ invasion of Rockenmeyer.

Uncovering Razvolnic’s legacy, earning 40,000 gold profits.

Encountering the Dragon Lord, inviting her to the guild.

Befriending Heroes Haineken, the Vagabond Hero, Ley, and Brudhild, earning their anticipation.

Single-handedly defeating the Demon Lord officer, the Tsunami Tamer.

Exploits as a One-Man Siege Weapon.

And finally.

The defeat of Legion Commander Berthe and the retaking of the Metapolis Fortress.

All these accomplishments within a mere six months.

Each line was immense. Even for top-ranking Apostles, a single such grand feat would be a lifelong struggle. His achievements already rivaled those of Heroes.

Once his identity as a Boss Monster Killer was revealed, followed by his decidedly abnormal feats,

people finally understood – Han Doyun was beyond common sense, a transcendent monster like previous Boss Monster Killers.

And he had truly defeated the monstrous Legion Commander.

The continent was swept up in fervor over the four characters: Han Doyun.

“Han Doyun! Han Doyun!”

“Oh, I… I was in the same Cradle term as Han Doyun, oh!?”

“Back then, I really thought I was done for with those Satan’s Imp forces! But then this lone Apostle leaped down from the ramparts…”

“It was the Amasbin Festival, and he shattered the gate with a single wave of his hand! Just thinking about it still makes my legs tremble…!”

Every tavern buzzed with his name, and bards sang of Apostle Han Doyun’s exploits.

The era of Apostle Han Doyun had arrived.

No, the era of the Hero Han Doyun.