Luna 3

Doyun and Luna sensed someone concealed between nearby buildings through their perception.

Naturally, it was no mere petty thief.

‘An assassin?’

The breathing and concealment patterns were unmistakably those of an assassin.

Female.

‘She’s observing me.’

Among the people on the carriage, her gaze was fixed on Doyun.

Yet strangely, no killing intent could be felt, nor was she demonic in nature.

Above all, this individual was stronger than Doyun.

Even the remilitarized Minister who had attacked him in the Cradle and been the Dark Lord’s top assassin of the previous era paled compared to Doyun’s current power. The Dark Lord’s forces now lacked such a formidable assassin.

Not of the Dark Lord’s forces, yet superior to Doyun – that meant:

‘That woman.’

At least a mid-tier Hero.

The very woman Dokkogamuyong and Heineken had spoken of moments ago.

It seemed her former position had been that of an assassin.

‘But… why is she concealed?’

As Doyun pondered this, Heineken addressed him.

[If I may be so bold as to inquire…]

An intent to divert from the awkward topic was palpable.

Not wishing to cause them further discomfort, Doyun obliged the conversational shift.

[What is it?]

[With you now receiving the Alliance citizens’ adulation as a hero candidate, may I ask about your current combat prowess? Are you unable to manifest the power displayed during the Baird War?]

[That level of might was achieved through temporary doping. In terms of my inherent martial ability presently… likely on par with Rei, I’d wager.]

[Certainly you would emerge victorious against Rei without much difficulty.]

Heineken grinned with his thick facial features.

Doyun smiled back in response.

[We’ll have to see about that.]

[Hehehe.]

As Heineken said, Doyun was indeed the recipient of everyone’s expectations now.

The Alliance citizens below were cheering rapturously for him – the hero who had accomplished the monumental feat of subjugating a Warlord.

However, Doyun’s current power level, bolstered by the rapid growth from the previous war, had only recently reached the minimum threshold of a low-tier Hero.

‘My growth has stagnated. The path ahead remains long.’

Once again, he would bear the weight of everyone’s fervent hopes, just as in his previous life.

Yet he felt no burden – for one whose goal was the continent’s salvation, this was simply the natural course.

He would merely use it as fuel to reaffirm his resolve.

Waaaaaahhhh—!!!

“…”

Wordlessly, Doyun observed the crowds waving up at him.

Then, at that moment,

‘…!’

Doyun’s right hand moved towards the sword hilt at his left hip.

‘Too late to block with my neck or waist. I must deflect it with my sword.’

His right hand prepared a kicking technique, while his left grasped his cloak, flaring it outwards like an unfolding curtain.

Kkaang-!

The ash-grey cloak and violet dagger clashed violently.

Despite the collision between mere fabric and a metal dagger, metal striking metal rang out amid sparks.

Everyone jolted in shock, their gazes instantly converging.

“Blocked?”

The woman who had attacked Doyun muttered in apparent surprise, eyes wide.

Then her follow-up strike.

Doyun had only partially drawn his sword, too slow to react this time as well.

‘Shadow magic.’

Another razor-sharp sword construct formed of shadow magic sliced towards his waist with lethal precision.

Desperately twisting his body and fully unsheathing his blade, Doyun knew evading the fatal strike was impossible.

No killing intent had registered – he had let his guard down, assuming the assailant was an allied Hero in front of the crowds and other Heroes.

The decisive advantage assassins seized through ambush and first strike. Her superior physical specs. An overwhelmingly disadvantageous scenario.

“Dimwit.”

A mocking whisper accompanied the shadow blade’s piercing of his waist.

As Doyun braced for the lethal wound and counterattacked,

Hwaaak-

“…!”

Doyun’s pendant flashed brilliantly.

+++

[Certainly you would emerge victorious against Rei without much difficulty.]

Heineken grinned with his thick facial features.

Doyun did not respond.

“…”

The world regressed.

No more carelessness. The opponent proved even more ‘mad’ than rumored.

His right hand drew his sword while his left flourished his cloak – the same exchange as before.

But this time, Doyun was faster.

Kkaang-!

As dagger and cloak clashed with a resounding metallic clang, everyone startled and turned towards them.

“Blocked?”

The same muttered utterance, yet her face remained unseen this time.

The cloak, unfurled even wider, completely obscured her and Doyun from view.

Doyun had utilized [Prankster’s Scribbles].

“…!”

“Huh?”

His physical form had vanished.

Even the concealment master Heineken, the draconic senses of Rei, and the assassin he had directly engaged – all lost sight of him in that instant.

Chelck.

“Why did you attack me?”

A chilling whisper from behind.

“…Eh?”

She felt the keen edge of a blade pressed against her throat, ready to sever it at any moment.

In that fleeting instant, Doyun had taken her back.

The Heroes on the platform, the organizers, even the crowds below froze.

After the imperceptible exchange, the stunned onlookers’ screams finally erupted.

“Kyaaahh!”

“Wh, What’s going on? Is this an event?”

As everyone murmured in bewilderment, a shout rang out.

“Elizabeth! It’s the Mad Woman!”

“Sh, Shush…! You’ll get yourself killed speaking like that…!”

Those words made it clear – this was no mere event.

Another of the many sudden outbursts that had earned the Hero Elizabeth her infamous ‘Mad Woman’ moniker.

A genuine combat situation where someone had nearly been grievously harmed.

“Wait. Then does this mean…”

And once again, someone’s muttering revealed what they had failed to notice.

“The hero candidate… defeated Elizabeth?”

Moreover, with a single decisive move to seize her back and throat.

An overwhelming difference even ordinary spectators could perceive.

“Three seconds. Answer me.”

Doyun did not hesitate, undeterred by the assailant’s Heroic status or alliance.

Elizabeth’s expression contorted hideously.

One second. Two seconds.

“You… bastard…”

The hand gripping her dagger twitched.

Three seconds.

“Kkhk!”

She lashed out with her dagger.

Doyun’s merciless blade moved to sever her neck.

Chang-

Ppuck-

But in that brief instant, Dokkogamuyong’s staff thrust Elizabeth away while Heineken’s spear deflected Doyun’s sword.

The two Heroes interposed themselves between the combatants.

“Stand down, both of you!”

[Your Grace, I implore you to endure this, just once!]

Dokkogamuyong pleaded telepathically.

“…”

Sensing this was not the desired outcome, Doyun relented.

“Let go! You bastards, release me!”

Restrained by Heineken and Rei, Elizabeth thrashed wildly on the ground, her partially severed neck gushing blood profusely.

Unlike Dokkogamuyong and Heineken, Rei and Bryhildr watched the spectacle with cold, ruthless eyes.

Even lying prone, Elizabeth’s gaze burned with fury directed at Doyun.

“Aaaaaahh!! I’ll fucking kill you, you bastard!!”

Like a petulant child consumed by tantrum, oblivious to her surroundings or wrongdoing.

Only now could Doyun sense Elizabeth’s killing intent.

‘…Could her earlier attack have been a mere prank?’

In front of all these spectators? An assault that triggered regression, narrowly avoiding a lethal strike?

Doyun inquired to Dokkogamuyong,

“Who is that woman?”

“Th, That is…”

Waaaaahhhh—!!!

The resounding cheers drowned out Dokkogamuyong’s attempted explanation.

The Heroes and organizers surveyed their surroundings.

Waaaaaahhhh—!!!

The crowds packing the square, streets, and rooftops were fervently enraptured.

A harrowing incident where grave injury could have occurred, yet the intoxicated masses saw only one stark reality through their heroic reverence –

The unprecedented spectacle of a mere high-ranking Apostle, yet to be officially enshrined as a hero candidate, defeating a mid-tier Hero unfolded before their eyes.

Though unable to follow the imperceptible exchange, they had witnessed Doyun seizing the woman’s back with his blade at her throat, his chilling utterance.

A poetic scene one might hear from romantic bards – the crowds roared ecstatically, blood boiling with zeal.

They were utterly enthralled by the heroic aura.

Waaaaaahhhh—!!!

“Aaaaaahh!! You fuckers!!”

Elizabeth’s profane outbursts were drowned out by the thunderous cheers.

The Alliance organizers swiftly moved to contain the situation – restraining and treating the wounded Elizabeth, while checking on Doyun’s condition.

“This is…”

“Hehehe, not bad at all, I’d say?”

The organizers’ reactions were split.

Some were flustered by the unexpected incident, while others rejoiced that this disruption had perfectly reinforced the procession’s intended impact.

“But, did Apostle Han Doyun truly defeat Elizabeth…?”

“That’s not the pertinent issue now! We cannot let this momentum dissipate!”

After securing Doyun’s understanding, the Alliance proceeded with the march.

The convoy was met with even greater fervor than before.

As Doyun waved to the crowds, Dokkogamuyong provided him the details telepathically.

[…She had been problematic from the outset, but was unilaterally elevated to Heroic status by her nation’s sovereign. At the time, there were many vacancies among the Heroes due to wartime losses, and she was undeniably skilled above all others.]

Hearing her track record, Doyun clicked his tongue in displeasure.

The recent Name Seeker activation to track ‘Ruozvolnick’ – the point cost had been paid through a judicial trade with Elizabeth.

Her exploits must have been illustrious indeed to warrant such an exorbitant point exchange in that trade, the only reason she had avoided imprisonment prior.

Hero Elizabeth – a certifiable homicidal maniac, through and through.

[I understand her initial promotion due to necessity. But why has her Heroic status not been revoked until now?]

[Revoking a Hero’s title is an exceedingly complex process. The committee must first convene and grant approval, but…]

[The committee fears her retaliation, I take it.]

[Precisely.]

Of course, Doyun instantly deduced additional underlying reasons as well.

[And her dismissal itself must have been a contentious issue, given her undeniable prowess.]

Wars required Heroes, and she was a precious talent possessing mid-tier Heroic combat ability.

[The Matriarch and the Lion King must have advocated retaining her, I presume.]

[…My sincere apologies.]

Had the Alliance’s top two power brokers – the Lion King and Dokkogamuyong – opposed her, Elizabeth would have been unseated regardless.

As an infamous extremist, the Lion King would likely have executed her outright if against her retention, just as Enoch had done.

Yet simultaneously being an extremist, he audaciously utilized her volatile capabilities as a martial asset.

‘Bryhildr and Rei must have opposed her retention.’

He had sensed their cold glares towards Elizabeth earlier.

Clearly, opinions were sharply divided – and this was merely among the Heroes themselves.

[I shall arrange a meeting with her soon. But for now, I implore you…]

[I shall not concern myself with her further. You need not worry.]

[My deepest gratitude, Lord Enoch…!]

Doyun turned away.

Both sides held valid perspectives – he had assured Dokkogamuyong he would not dwell on the matter.

Yet Doyun’s mind was already set.

‘I must eliminate her soon.’

Ever wary that internal malignancies posed greater dangers than external foes, he did not hesitate to excise such cancers.

Moreover, as a true extremist, he invariably imposed his uncompromising will over all others’ opinions.

Perhaps he was mistaken, but internal strife during wartime was absolutely unacceptable.

For the sake of war, Enoch had always enforced his own uncompromising standards through force.

And ultimately, he had prevailed.

‘I need to create… an opportune timing…’

As he deliberated, furrowing his brow, his hand idly grasped the sword hilt at his hip.

+++

Meanwhile, a pair of eyes observed the entire process from the shadows.

‘…’

Within Luna’s impassive countenance, her golden irises smoldered with bloodlust as she regarded Elizabeth.