Chapter 16. Ghoul Horde.

Ji-hyuk and his group traveled for another half-month and arrived at the small city of Franca. A beautiful field stretched out before them, but there was an ominous air flowing through the place. The people’s expressions were filled with anxiety, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Ji-hyuk guessed that something was up, but he didn’t know what it was. Kayak must have noticed something similar, as he spoke quietly to the leader before entering the inner castle.

“Leader-nim, I think something’s going on.”

“…Looks like it.”

Only then did the rest of the team belatedly pick up on the atmosphere. The anxiety spread to them.

The carriage carrying Ji-hyuk’s team entered the inner castle. Baron Franca, having heard the news of the hero’s arrival, came out to greet them personally. His expression was as if he had met a savior.

“I sincerely welcome you, Hero.”

“I’m overwhelmed by such a warm welcome.”

Ji-hyuk sent his team members to the lodging building first, then faced the baron alone. The hero broached the subject, saying that the city’s atmosphere seemed very strange.

“That’s, well….”

“It’s alright. Tell me.”

“A ghoul horde is sweeping through the area. We’ve already lost count of the number of villages that have been hit.”

“…A ghoul horde?”

Ji-hyuk had a moment of realization. Hearing about the ghoul horde reminded him of the dead daughter incident with that count from before.

…So it eventually escalated this far.

This was definitely related to the incident that Hero Elheim and the city of Chronostan had experienced in the surrounding villages back then. …Indeed, it would have been right to eliminate the embers when they were still small. He realized that once again.

He wasn’t entirely without fault in how things had turned out. Of course, considering the situation, there were unavoidable aspects, but he couldn’t be completely free from responsibility.

“I’ve sent a request for help to the Empire…, but it’s a difficult situation to wait for.”

“I see.”

The baron watched the hero’s reaction. This was a problem that he couldn’t possibly solve on his own. He had urgently requested help from neighboring cities, but they were all silent. …Well, they were probably all too busy defending their own territories.

“Has a hero ever visited here before?”

“There have been two visits, but both left saying they would request help from the Empire.”

It was obvious that they ran away because they didn’t want to deal with it. That’s just how those hero bastards are. It was already expected.

The baron’s expression became very urgent. He seemed worried that Ji-hyuk would just leave too.

“We really can’t hold on any longer. They’re getting closer and closer. If they attack the city, it’s really over. …Hero, please have mercy on us and help us.”

The baron seemed to know that this wasn’t the time to stand on ceremony. He pleaded with Ji-hyuk to help.

“Let’s discuss it first. Of course, I’m considering it positively. So don’t worry too much.”

“…I understand. I sincerely hope to hear good news.”

With that, the two parted ways. Ji-hyuk left the palace and headed straight to the lodging building. The team members, who had already unpacked and were waiting for their leader-nim in the reception room, jumped up to greet him.

“Leader-nimㅡ!”

Baldy Gid ran up eagerly, bowing and grinning slyly.

“How many days are you planning to rest this time…?”

“Everyone, gather around.”

Ji-hyuk ignored the baldy’s question and gestured for them to gather. Only then did Gid realize that something serious was going on.

The six team members besides Ji-hyuk sat around the circular table. Their gazes were directed at their standing leader-nim.

“We have a problem.”

The team members’ expressions became a bit serious. Kayak stepped forward as their representative and asked.

“What’s the problem?”

“A ghoul horde is said to be sweeping through the surrounding villages.”

“A ghoul horde?”

Gid asked back, as if he were flustered. Not only the baldy, but everyone else seemed to have not expected that. Who would have thought that the ghoul horde would be the problem.

There, Ji-hyuk made a clear declaration.

“I think I have to step up.”

“…Do you really have to?”

Gid opened his mouth with a worried expression.

“The Empire will dispatch a hero when the time comes, shouldn’t we just pass by? I don’t think we need to stir up trouble unnecessarily.”

“No. Things have already gotten this big because we kept postponing it like that. I’ve seen a similar incident near here before. But even after more than a year, nothing has changed. …Does that explain it?”

Only then did Gid shut his mouth. Ji-hyuk scanned the team members and spoke again.

“If I, as a hero, turn a blind eye to this and pass by, am I a hero of the continent or just a mercenary of the Empire who only takes what he wants? …I am a hero who cares about the well-being of the continent. We don’t know how much bigger this will get. This is something we can do to prevent greater sacrifices in advance.”

Kayak nodded and lowered his head slightly.

“You are absolutely right. I will follow Leader-nim’s orders.”

Everyone said they would follow the hero’s choice. Grace and Grendal also postponed their revenge for this time. It wasn’t as urgent as the crisis right in front of them.

“Thank you. For understanding my intentions.”

“No. Even if Leader-nim were to go to hell, it is our duty to follow.”

Kayak showed his loyalty. Gid was horrified to hear that.

“W, well, even so, hell is a bit much, don’t you think?”

Ji-hyuk laughed.

“I won’t forcibly drag you to hell.”

Gid sighed in relief and stroked his chest. And then, a sly grin burst out.

“Ah, actually, I was also thinking of following you to hellㅡ! Hehe, Leader-nim, you trust me, right?”

“Ugh, you good-for-nothingㅡ! You don’t even know honor. You should be ashamedㅡ!”

Mahushu pointed a finger at the guy. Gid retorted that honor doesn’t put food on the table. Small laughter erupted. The stiff atmosphere eased a bit.

“Then keep that in mind. For now, I’ll postpone the mission and focus on this problem. …But I won’t drag it out for too long. I promise. Is that alright?”

Ji-hyuk said that while looking at Grace and Grendal. They nodded, saying it was no problem.

The hero made that decision and went to see the baron again. He was very anxious.

“What’s the decision?”

“I’ve decided to try to solve this problem for now.”

Ahㅡ!

The baron’s face brightened up as if he had come back to life. He was flustered, not knowing how to express his gratitude.

“It’s what a hero should do anyway.”

“You are a true hero. I will never forget this favor.”

“But there are quite a few things I need, would you be able to support that much?”

“Of course. Just say the word. I will support you as much as I can.”

The baron said he would hold a banquet right away. But Ji-hyuk declined. He said it would be enough to do it after everything was over.

“Just take care of me so that I don’t have any inconveniences.”

“I will firmly instruct my subordinates.”

The work was started like that for now.

Ji-hyuk first sent investigation teams and reconnaissance teams here and there. He didn’t want to waste unnecessary time. The goal of this mission was to find and deal with the enemy as quickly and accurately as possible.

The baron also found knights and porters to move with him later. The knight order, consisting of ten people, decided to obey the hero’s orders until the ghoul horde was dealt with.

Ji-hyuk wandered around the city, listening to the stories of the displaced survivors, until the investigation team and reconnaissance team he had dispatched returned. He brought Grace along with him. He hoped that working so busily would help with her anxiety.

…He’s an amazing person.

Honestly, Grace felt that if she were the hero, she would have probably turned a blind eye and passed by. But this hero… was much more righteous. Having been on the hero team for a long time, she had seen many heroes, but this was the first time she had seen a hero like this. Even though he was jaded from the world, his sense of justice had not faded.

And it wasn’t a pretense of being righteous either. He was sincerely trying to solve this problem. He wasn’t even asking for anything in return.

Is that possible? Not asking for anything in return? Just out of a sense of justice?

She thought that a true hero was someone like this. …She felt a bit strange.

“Grace?”

“…Yes?”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. I’m alright. I was just thinking about something.”

Ji-hyuk said let’s go back to the lodging. Grace walked side by side with him, step by step. A beautiful sunset was setting. Ahㅡ. Her heart fluttered at the warm sunlight hitting her body.

He glanced at her expression. He headed to the plaza. And he sat down next to her by a small fountain. He bought some fruit nearby and handed one to her. She received it and looked up at him slightly.

“Eat.”

Ji-hyuk said that and smiled as he watched the setting sun. Grace also crunched on the fruit.

…Something was peaceful. It was the feeling that she thought she would never feel again.

Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. She panicked and quickly wiped away the tears with her sleeve. But the tears wouldn’t stop, as if her tear ducts were broken.

“Ah, uh, why, why is this happening….”

The leader silently stroked Grace’s back gently. At that warmth, she couldn’t hold back anymore and covered her face with both hands and sobbed.

“Yeah, it’s okay to feel that way. It’s alright. It will all pass someday. All of it….”

She cried until the sunset was completely gone, and then she finally stopped. Her swollen eyes were a bit of a mess.

“I’m sorry. I was a mess….”

“It’s alright, you foul-mouthed miss.”

Eutㅡ. Grace’s heart stung at the word “foul-mouthed.”

“…You’re not still holding that against me, are you?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I was so shocked.”

“That, that was…, Leader-nim, it was also your fault. Do you think I’m the kind of person who curses at just anyone?”

Grace retorted like a prim and proper lady. Ji-hyuk smiled silently. She was surprised and grabbed his arm and stopped.

“Do you really think that? Really?”

“Why? I didn’t say anything.”

“No, it’s weirder because you’re not saying anything. …Answer me. Do you really think that?”

“I don’t know.”

Ji-hyuk, with his arm still grabbed, started walking forward again. Uh-ohㅡ. She was dragged forward and let go of his arm.

“Let’s go quickly. The team members might misunderstand.”

“…Misunderstand?”

“If a man and a woman are together until late at night, it’s easy to misunderstand.”

“Who would misunderstand thatㅡ! You son of a bitch, if there is, I’ll just…”

A swear word was about to come out, but she cleared her throat and looked at his reaction.

“I understand. If you hang out with rough guys, your language can get a bit rough.”

“No, that’s not it, I’m telling youㅡ!”

“But, it’s not like you’ve only done it once or twice.”

Grace closed her mouth tightly, thinking that words wouldn’t work. Ji-hyuk just kept smiling slyly. In the meantime, they had already arrived at the lodging building.

They had a simple meal and dispersed to their respective rooms.

Soon, someone came to Ji-hyuk’s room. It was Yael. She was very impatient, having not seen Leader-nim’s dick for almost a month.

Having been rejected once before, she racked her brain to figure out how to excite Leader-nim even more.

So, as soon as she entered the room, she suddenly got down on all fours like a dog and crawled to him.

…Huh, look at this bitch?

Ji-hyuk burst out laughing. Somehow, this drug-addicted magician seemed to be developing in that direction as time went on. Is it the result of her smart brain and her desperation….

The hero thought that it would be a shame to just send Yael away when she was making such tearful efforts, so he immediately untied his pants and pulled them down. He thought he’d give her some dick to eat for once.

Ahㅡ!

She was very happy that her sincerity had worked. Seeing him take out his dick on his own, it seemed to be very effective.

That’s it. This is it. This is what works.

“I haven’t showered yet.”

“It’s alright. I don’t care if it’s Leader-nim….”

Yael didn’t care at all and immediately put Ji-hyuk’s dick in her mouth. She didn’t mind if it tasted salty. She just liked everything about Leader-nim.

The magician who was able to suck the hero-nim’s dick was very happy.