Victory. And Apostle Han Doyun. 5

+++

“The disrespectful Haineken greets the great Sir Enoch.”

As Haineken entered the audience chamber, he immediately bent deeply from the waist.

“In my Master’s realm, one must never kneel before anyone other than the Master himself… please forgive me.”

“…It’s fine.”

“Allow me to speak. I am unworthy of showing respect to Sir Enoch.”

“Since I’m the senior, I’ll continue addressing you as such in my own way.”

At those words, Haineken flinched.

‘Senior.’

More than the honor of being addressed as a junior by the paramount Hero Sir Enoch, memories of his past transgressions caused his pupils to tremble.

To have proclaimed himself the senior before this Enoch…

He felt utterly ashamed and remorseful, even on the verge of death.

“…Ki, Kill me…”

“The Sir has already agreed to my showing respect. For now… straighten up.”

Doyun cut him off graciously, sparing him further distress.

Haineken, his upper body upright, had a face flushed beet red. Doyun and the Vagabond Hero couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sight.

Watching this, Eloah felt immensely proud. For two renowned Heroes of this era to be so flustered before our Hero.

‘Yes, this is how it should be!’

It seemed the world was finally recognizing the Hero, filling her with joy.

After fidgeting awkwardly, Haineken soon cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“As this is my first formal greeting to Sir Enoch, I have brought a special tribute. Please accept it.”

“Thank you. But do not elevate me too highly. Let us interact as senior and junior, with me as the senior.”

“How could I…”

“Do not defy the Hero’s words.”

The Vagabond Hero admonished his disciple sternly, causing Haineken to flinch and nod tensely. Doyun gave a wry smile.

“Very well. Let’s see this junior’s gift.”

“Yes!”

Haineken unwrapped an exquisite silk packaging as he spoke.

Such painstaking effort had been invested that it seemed fit for an exchange between royalty – an utterly lavish and luxurious package.

“The Master advised me in selecting this gift. He has long studied Sir Enoch’s public and private life. You will surely be pleased.”

Haineken’s self-assuredness, a stark contrast to his earlier tension, piqued Doyun’s anticipation.

However, as the silk unraveled to reveal an intricately carved wooden wine case, Doyun sensed something amiss.

“Wait, could that be…”

“The day has come for me to present this item to Sir Enoch!”

Though Doyun tried to stop him momentarily, the overly excited Haineken hastily opened the case.

“Here, a very rare limited edition wine from the Bordeaux region – the Razvolnic Edition!”

Brimming with confidence, Haineken extended the crystal wine bottle.

“…”

Doyun regarded the proffered bottle with a rather dejected gaze, while Eloah was already doubling over in laughter.

“Ahahahah! Ahahahah…!”

“Why, why are you… Could it be, the gift displeases you…”

“No. Give it here. I’ll enjoy it thoroughly.”

However, Doyun could not bring himself to reject their goodwill. He suppressed his distaste.

Indeed, befitting Haineken’s respectful senior-junior treatment, this gift’s caliber was extraordinary.

A limited Bordeaux wine renowned as a premium vintage even a century ago.

‘If it’s the Razvolnic Edition…’

No jest, this single bottle likely exceeded 1,000 gold pieces. They must have agonized over selecting this gift.

Unable to brush aside their sincere efforts, Doyun accepted it, prompting Haineken’s thick face to crease into a beaming smile.

Ah, to have this bottle in his possession – one of the five most expensive wines on the continent! To have safely preserved it until this momentous day!

He felt immensely proud of himself, overwhelmed by this glorious moment.

However, the Vagabond Hero seemed to grasp the situation, uncharacteristically fidgeting uncomfortably.

The Vagabond Hero transmitted telepathically.

[My apologies. I am truly remorseful. We had no such intentions…]

[It’s alright, do not dwell on it. It is indeed a wine brand I quite enjoy. I will savor it thoroughly.]

After a slightly awkward exchange, the four took their seats and conversed.

“It’s such a shame. That rascal Ley would be overjoyed to the point of breathlessness if he knew.”

Eloah nodded in agreement. Ley, the elf who had lived like a sibling with Eloah, was also a devoted Razvolnic enthusiast she knew well.

Fortunately, having joined the battlefield midway and remained unconscious for most of it, he had missed the crucial conversations.

“That may be so… but as my disciple, I believe it’s best not to inform Ley. While a righteous and pure-hearted Hero, his personality raises concerns about leaking secrets.”

“I share that view, which is why I only disclosed it to you two.”

“A wise decision. That rascal would have struggled to keep his mouth shut. Being so guileless, it would show on his face.”

“Hopefully, a time will come when he too can be informed.”

The Vagabond Hero chuckled wryly.

Thus, those privy to Doyun’s true identity were now Eloah, Brudhild, the Vagabond Hero, Haineken, and the four elite guild members who had remained until the end to support Haineken during the Berthe battle – eight in total.

Haineken would manage those four guild members.

“What became of those who overheard my conversation with Berthe on site?”

“Around a thousand witnesses. Each and every one was magically silenced. Some information did leak out, but my Openhand Organization spread false rumors to cover it up. Rest assured.”

Doyun nodded, reassured.

Haineken, capable of power rivaling a Legion Commander. And the Vagabond Hero, a grandmaster of all martial arts leading the vast Openhand information network.

The formidable might of these two had effectively come under Doyun’s command.

“And…”

The Vagabond Hero’s expression turned grave as he broached the main topic.

“Regarding the ‘System’ Berthe mentioned, the Alliance’s intelligence forces were fully mobilized, but we could find no records of it.”

The most shocking revelation from this war – the Demon Lord’s forces being granted the System’s blessings.

An issue too grave to be easily dismissed.

“No matter how I ponder it, it’s hard to believe… Could Haineken have misheard?”

“No. They have undoubtedly received the System’s blessings.”

Doyun spoke with conviction.

“I have fought against all the Legion Commanders. The concept of growth does not exist for them. Yet the Satan’s Imp forces were clearly stronger than a century ago, as was the Tsunami Tamer. Moreover, I witnessed Berthe’s growth process firsthand.”

‘He has fought against all the Legion Commanders,’ the Hero’s nonchalant declaration drew admiration. Haineken too nodded, having witnessed Berthe’s growth himself.

“While the circumstances remain unknown… there is no doubt they have received the System’s blessings.”

A heavy air permeated the room. A truly dreadful revelation.

“Senior. In Berthe’s words, there was a nuance that the System was incomplete.”

Doyun had also perceived this.

Although some secret appeared to be hidden, they were not utilizing the System as comprehensively as the Alliance’s Apostles. A small consolation, at least.

“In future wars, we must strive to capture prisoners for interrogation.”

“We need as much information as possible. And…”

Doyun’s expression grew grave once more. The three focused on his words.

“According to the information from Berthe, within the Demon Lord’s castle…”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“…a project is underway to revive the deceased Legion Commanders.”

“…!”

“What in the…!”

Another horrifying revelation.

In the previous century, Enoch had slain a total of four Legion Commanders.

Among them, the most formidable ones the Demon Lord’s forces would likely attempt to revive were:

‘The Netherworld’s Guardian Tree Yggdrasil. And the Lich King Ghoul.’

Yggdrasil had been the absolute sovereign of fortification, the primary reason the Alliance could not dare invade the Demon Lord’s castle without Enoch, their paramount Legion Commander asset.

And Ghoul was the one who had killed the Sword Saint Busker himself, with the trait of maximizing his power as life around him withered.

Neither possessed overwhelming individual might, but they wielded tremendous force in warfare. If they were revived, the war would only intensify.

‘And the Celestials.’

Doyun’s expression darkened abruptly.

If the Celestials were deceased and being revived by this project?

Their current whereabouts remain unknown, but this was a possibility that could not be dismissed.

Verification procedures were necessary regarding this matter.

‘To locate the Celestials, I must utilize that facility. The preparations are now sufficient.’

Using that facility required an immense point cost and the social standing and prestige to obtain permission.

Both had been resolved through Doyun’s defeat of the Legion Commander.

‘I just need to wait until my reputation matures sufficiently.’

Then, he could search for the entity second only to the former Demon Lord and Enoch at his peak – the Celestials.

‘…’

Indeed, making such efforts might not be the right answer. The Alliance’s forces might be incapable of slaying them.

However, he could not remain idle, so he had to struggle regardless. That was the extent of his current response regarding the Celestials.

The Celestials were such a hopeless adversary.

“Then the Alliance should…”

“However…”

The four discussed countermeasures, but to little avail.

Had not even Hecleus, who had attained the Manifest Sword after 40 years of training, sustained fatal wounds while attempting to stop this project before fleeing?

There was nothing the Alliance could do immediately.

‘I must swiftly grow stronger.’

As a century ago, the answer lay solely with the paramount Hero Enoch.

Doyun steeled his resolve once more.

“Then will the Hero focus on training for the time being? The battlefield seems likely to remain quiet for a while.”

“Ah, the Hero will be entering the Cradle!”

Eloah answered, prompting puzzled looks from the Vagabond Hero and Haineken.

“The Cradle?”

Meeting their inquisitive gazes, Doyun nodded.

+++

Within the Cradle, as the six-month Dimensional Gate opening approached,

The bustling instructors received notification of staffing changes for the upcoming term’s administration.

“Finally, I’m no longer the junior!”

The Combat Instructor’s direct junior, an assistant instructor, spoke excitedly.

Like the Combat Instructor, he had steadily risen through the elite ranks, qualifying as a World Tree-sponsored instructor from his very first term.

However, having only assumed the instructor role last term, he was still the most junior staff member without exception.

Fortunately, alongside the Cradle’s security enhancements this term, a large-scale personnel expansion had occurred.

Thus, with a new assistant instructor joining under the Combat Instructor, he could shed his ‘junior’ status after just one term.

“Are you that thrilled?”

“Senior. Please don’t call me the coffee vending machine anymore. I am now a proper senior to someone…!”

He playfully feigned solemnity. He had been like this since the staffing announcement.

However, at this point, the Combat Instructor, who had been responding with chuckles, began displaying a slightly stiff expression.

Not disgruntlement, but a sort of pity.

“…Hey.”

The Combat Instructor, who had intended to tease him further, decided to reveal the truth.

“Here. This is a page I slipped out from the official document for you.”

“Pardon? What is it?”

“Ack, time’s up. I’ll be going.”

As the assistant instructor accepted the paper, the Combat Instructor swiftly excused himself with a apologetic air.

“What could it be…”

Sensing something amiss from his demeanor, the assistant instructor carefully read the roster.

[Skeletonia Cradle Term 142 Administration Personnel Expansion Details]

Assistant Instructors:

• • Daniel Hazard

 

• • Roden…

    -…

Quite a number of unfamiliar names were listed.

He double-checked the name of the new assistant instructor under his charge.

The fresh junior to inherit his sophisticated ‘coffee machine’ moniker and take over all his miscellaneous duties – that lovely junior’s name was:

“…Huh?”

[-…

-…

• • Han Doyun

    And 14 others.]

Someone far beyond his comprehension.