Victory. And Apostle Han Doyun. 2

+++

The Alliance military was completely upended by the return of the Heroes.

“V, Victory! Against a Legion Commander! We’ve won!!”

“The Legion Commander has been defeated!!”

Unable to contain their excitement, everyone in the conference room shouted incessantly, and even amidst the ongoing war, a grand military band and generals welcomed their triumphant return.

The mightiest of foes. The most formidable existence. The defeat of a Legion Commander.

This was the Alliance’s long-cherished wish, an insurmountable wall never breached since Enoch Razvolnic’s demise.

Even during the Great Demon Lord War a century ago, and in this current war against the new Demon Lord, the primary reason for the Alliance’s struggles had been the Legion Commanders.

The former Demon Lord was preoccupied with training to become a deity, never leaving the Demon Lord’s castle. The current Demon Lord’s reasons remain unknown, but she too is confined within the castle.

Thus, the Alliance’s greatest adversaries in this war were the Legion Commanders themselves.

They were overwhelmingly powerful.

Within the Holy Stones’ interior, only top-tier Heroes could engage a Legion Commander on equal footing, while outside, only the Lion King, Martial Saints, and Haineken stood a chance of battle.

Naturally, the Alliance could only wage defensive warfare from within the Holy Stones. And whenever they were driven back to a heavily fortified stronghold, the Legion Commanders would invade despite reduced power and costs, ultimately defeating them.

The result was the current Lion King frontline – the mightiest Holy Stone, the mightiest fortress walls, the mightiest ruler.

The Legion Commanders had attempted to conquer Muspelheim several times, but were always repelled by the Lion King.

Yet even the Lion King could only defend. The Legion Commanders withdrew not because the Lion King had ‘defeated’ them, but because they had ‘endured’ until their costs of remaining within the Holy Stone became burdensome.

In other words, an achievement the Lion King himself could not accomplish had now been realized in this war.

By two Heroes and the Apostle Han Doyun.

“Just who is this Han Doyun?! Gather all information on him, right now!!”

“Yes, sir!”

Naturally, the military was in an uproar.

According to soldier eyewitness accounts, Doyun’s contribution was no mere support role. He had been a key combatant alongside Haineken.

Moreover, after the Legion Commander’s unexpected power-up, he had truly fought alone.

An Apostle on par with a Hero had emerged. More momentous than the defeat of a single Legion Commander was this joyous development.

However, strict control over certain information soon followed.

Unsettling details were mentioned at an intelligence division meeting.

“Hecleus’s Style…? What is this?”

“According to the Legion Commander’s mutterings, Apostle Han Doyun knew Hecleus’s Style…”

“That topic is not to be mentioned.”

“Pardon?”

“Orders from above.”

This ‘above’ referred to the Vagabond Hero, effectively the Alliance’s foremost authority in the Lion King’s absence.

The intelligence chief recalled his conversation with the Vagabond Hero.

‘Shall we completely discard this information then?’

‘No. Wait. For now, just control its spread. First… I need to confirm something.’

‘Understood.’

Deeply respecting the Vagabond Hero second only to the Lion King, the intelligence chief unquestioningly obeyed the order.

Those who had heard the Legion Commander’s words – in other words, those privy to this information – numbered around a thousand soldiers at the vanguard, plus a few Apostles. Aside from them, the rest possessed ordinary sensory abilities, unable to eavesdrop from afar.

First, a strict gag order was imposed on them.

Of course, complete concealment was impossible given the scale, but as the story seemed like utter fiction, a few leaks posed no issue.

‘He always kept his expressions hidden, but this time was exceptionally…’

The Vagabond Hero’s demeanor had been particularly unsettling.

The intelligence chief sensed he had stumbled upon an immense secret. Thus, he ensured tighter secrecy and endeavored to forget for the time being.

For he was a soldier, not a prying gossip. He faithfully carried out the Vagabond Hero’s orders.

“Elevate only that file to top secret status for safekeeping. Proceed as planned with gathering other information on Apostle Han Doyun.”

“Yes, sir!”

The Alliance’s intelligence division became even busier.

+++

Meanwhile, as the military prepared to announce the Legion Commander’s death, the victory, and its key figures,

The Heroes who had participated in the war, including Haineken after receiving emergency treatment, immediately headed elsewhere.

The Heroes Brudhild Buske, Haineken, and the Vagabond Hero.

An exceptionally elite task force beyond lavish.

For a mere dungeon exploration squad, this was an unprecedented assembly in history.

“This rock?”

“Yes.”

Haineken nodded, examining the small paper scrap retrieved from Doyun’s bosom.

“I wonder what’s here.”

“Perhaps Doyun left behind provisions in case he used Hell’s Flame. An item to revive him no matter how gravely his body is ruined by the recoil.”

“But why in the middle of such a demon-infested area…?”

“Who knows.”

This was somewhere near the frontlines, a treacherous region teeming with vicious demonic beasts.

Of course, a demon-infested area was no issue for these four. More peculiar was Doyun pointing this out before collapsing.

The Vagabond Hero tapped the rock with his staff, inspecting it.

“Perfect concealment. Impossible with the Alliance’s capabilities… Looks like dwarven craftsmanship to me.”

“But didn’t they vanish long ago? How did Doyun…”

The two looked towards Brudhild.

However, as always, he remained silent, merely accompanying them.

After the battlefield had been secured by the Vagabond Hero and Brudhild, Haineken had shown them the paper Doyun had handed him.

Upon seeing it, Brudhild seemed to sense something and insisted on joining this expedition.

Haineken, who had overheard Berthe and Doyun’s conversation. The Vagabond Hero, already harboring suspicions about Doyun’s secrets.

From Brudhild’s grave demeanor, the two sensed he knew of Doyun’s secrets.

“Shall we enter?”

“…Yes.”

Brudhild nodded.

After removing the rock, they were greeted by a long secret passage and a warehouse entrance at its end.

“A mana-lock? Woefully inadequate security compared to its secrecy.”

A locking mechanism anyone could open by channeling mana stronger than the initially set level.

Behind them, Brudhild drew his sword.

Haineken asked him,

“Will you open it, Sir Brudhild?”

“No. Even my mana cannot open that door.”

“Pardon?”

At those words, Haineken opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“For there to be mana greater than the paramount swordsman of the continent, Sir Brudhild…”

“The door must be broken. Please assist.”

“Ah, yes.”

Without further ado, Haineken unsheathed his spear.

Moments later, the door shattered, and

Kwahng–!

As Haineken gripped his spear, wind gusted while kicking up dust.

Entering, the Vagabond Hero muttered,

“A warehouse.”

“Disorganized and cluttered. I wonder what kind of warehouse?”

“No weapons or resources in sight, mostly artifact-like items gathered… Hmm?”

Stepping over the scattered items underfoot, he noticed a solitary display case within.

“That is?”

After briefly examining it, his eyes widened in astonishment.

“…Damnation.”

Soon overcome with shock.

“What’s wrong?”

“Elixirs.”

“Pardon?”

Haineken asked in disbelief.

“No doubt about it. Elixirs… Two of them, no less. This can’t be…!”

“E, Elixirs? You mean those mythical, ultimate panaceas?”

Elixirs.

Legendary potions that instantly dispel any negative afflictions like curses, injuries, or disabilities upon consumption, while vastly extending one’s lifespan and potential.

Their very existence was once hotly debated like dragons, until Enoch Razvolnic’s journals confirmed they were real.

However, despite confirming their reality, even Heroes could scarcely hope to lay eyes upon one in their lifetimes.

“But why would Elixirs be here…”

Just how had Doyun obtained these?

Only then did they closely examine the miscellaneous items strewn across the floor that had brushed against their feet.

“…The Ring of Eternity. A top-grade divine artifact.”

“The Infinite Codex, Annals of the Earth, and this is… Th, The sap of the deceased Legion Commander Yggdrasil! What is all this…!”

The very items they had dismissed as worthless trinkets rolling underfoot

were artifacts of immense value that even top-ranking Apostles could scarcely hope to attain in their lifetimes.

The two were utterly dumbfounded by this bounty of priceless treasures.

Not just two Elixirs, but top-tier artifacts scattered like pebbles. An awe-inspiring treasure trove that would leave even dragons mesmerized and ravenous.

The place Doyun had provided directions to, which they had sought out.

It was one of the hidden legacies of the paramount Hero.

Enoch Razvolnic’s warehouse.