97 – 41. Living as a Hero (4)
Kilain Volkanoft, possessing exceptional skills in the formidable household of Byeon Chang-baek.
In contrast to his modest self, he was a radiant presence.
No one in the academy disliked him. Everyone wanted to be with him.
‘Maybe they just want to enjoy the benefits of being around someone noteworthy.’
Thanks to this, those considered promising in the future flocked around Kilain. Forming parties with them, Kilain consistently maintained the top position throughout his school years.
Kaien tried to change the results, but unfortunately, his grades always remained second.
There was a time when he almost succeeded. Around the time he was confident of seizing victory… when the exam went awry due to the mistakes of his colleagues. Kilain came to the dormitory in the middle of the night and said this.
“Is it not a waste to let your talent rot like this? How about joining me from next semester?”
It was a clear persuasion.
Kilain, who almost lost his top spot for the first time, began to analyze their competitors, the parties, in depth.
And at the same time, he realized.
Kaien. He needed to align himself with that man known as the hero of commoners.
Kilain said that if he joined forces with him, he could secure the top spot… and the means chosen for persuasion were not the only thing.
‘When I graduate from the academy and take the position in the Royal Guard, he said he wanted to entrust the Northern Wind Lion Knights to me.’
He guaranteed the future.
Of course, the land might not be the best for Volkanoft to live in. But if he entered the position in the Lion Knights, the story would completely change.
Volkanoft’s Northern Wind Lion Knights were a prestigious lineage even in the empire.
If I were to enter as a probationary knight there, I could avoid repeating the previous mistake of sending my parents to the gods without power.
A proposal so sweet and impressive. Kilian promised to give those things to Kyan if he just held her hand.
Kyan eventually rejected that proposal.
‘I still can’t forget that expression. The hand that was extended as if it couldn’t be believed was trembling.’
Clearly disappointed when the proposal he thought would be accepted didn’t go through, Kilian showed a rather bewildered expression.
It might have seemed like it wouldn’t work. He might have thought there was something lacking.
The only sure thing was that there was no flaw in Kilian’s proposal.
‘It was a good proposal. If I had accepted it, I would have lived a decent life.’
Honestly, he wanted to grab the hand he offered. He wanted to elevate his honor with guaranteed excellent grades.
He also wanted to get rid of the label of a commoner that always followed him.
‘I wouldn’t have to go back to where I lived.’
A village with nothing but trees and a small river… Of course, it was full of memories with his parents, but it was also a place he didn’t want to return to because of the memories of losing them.
He wanted to live as a member of the knight order recognized in the north, away from such a place.
However… There was only one reason he rejected such a happy life.
‘Comrades. How can I abandon those guys who saved me when I was lost after losing my family?’
For Kyan, a happy life was spending time with comrades like family. Without that, the word “happiness” couldn’t exist.
Emotions of feeling like he made a mistake after rejecting the proposal lingered in his mind, but Kyan used that frustration as a driving force and worked even harder.
Thanks to those efforts.
‘In the end, he snatched the top spot from him in the graduation exam.’
The reason he could prove that rejecting the offer was not a mistake and create a beautiful conclusion was that.
The power of being the top graduate was significant.
Mocking those who murmured that commoners couldn’t reach high positions, Kaien could enter the Imperial Knights, the prestigious order that bestowed the highest honor on its members.
It was a moment when a boy, who had no strength and could only watch his parents’ death, stood tall on his own.
‘I was so happy at that time.’
Wasn’t it truly happiness to reach the top with the comrades he desired so much?
At that moment, it felt genuinely happy, as if healing all the hardships he had endured.
At the same time, he knew Kaien had to understand.
That the life of commoners is structured.
Unlike nobles who do everything they want and live, the lives of commoners are filled with harsh obstacles.
‘One day, while building up achievements… I was given a mission to clear out mines.’
It was a common mission. Protecting the Empire from danger was the purpose of the existence of the Imperial Knights.
Among them, there was also the task of assassinating mines that betrayed humans and sided with demons.
Since it was something he had done countless times, he naturally thought nothing unusual would happen.
But the world did not flow as Kaien wanted.
“Helen… wake up… open your eyes! Bruno, Mérice, Zickfelt! He killed all the remaining mines! It’s over now! But we can’t stay here like this…”
In a trap created by the hidden anger of the demon lord’s entourage, his comrades suffered significant damage. Kaien said he would handle the mines alone in their place.
Treatment was needed, but both Kaien and his comrades knew how important the success of the operation was, so it was an unavoidable situation.
Instead, Kaien swiftly eliminated all those who had been hiding and returned…
But their breaths had already been extinguished.
“Ah… aaa…”
From Noble mtl dot com
In that moment, Kaien could only resent the world once again.
‘Why am I being subjected to such trials?’
He didn’t want to lose his precious people again.
At the same time, he began to seek strength.
Fame, money. Such worldly things were unnecessary. He had no confidence to navigate this world alone, and he earnestly wished for those who would understand this twisted life.
That was the reason. The reason Kaien wanted to become a hero.
As Kaien reminisced about the past, he opened his eyes once again. He could see.
“Hmm… I thought you were a nobody, but to cut off my right arm… Quite a feat.”
Satan, smiling as he revived his severed right arm with magic.
Looking at Kaien, who was impaled on the ground with injuries, Satan recalled the previous battle.
Not only did he pierce through the defense with a spear made of dirt, but he mercilessly struck with an axe made from wood that followed.
‘Dirt and wood… Even thinking about it again, it’s absurd.’
Weapons made from inadequate materials. However, that guy used them to relentlessly attack him countless times.
It didn’t matter if they broke. Kaien continued to create weapons.
Despite his old body, Satan was taken aback by his unbelievably fast movements.
He let his guard down, successfully pinning him to the ground. However, in the end, he lost his right arm to a human, a conviction he held as the strongest demon in Astelgia, excluding Belphegor and Lucifer.
It was unbelievable, yet a smile crept across their face.
“… The one who killed my family.”
“So it all ended with just an arm….”
Satana raised an eyebrow at Kaien’s scoffing voice.
“Yes. It’s your defeat. Just as I said.”
“I see…. Then go ahead and kill me. Make it sweet.”
“But before that, may I ask you something?”
“What do you want to ask?”
“Why did you choose to face me alone? Are you arrogant? Or do you want to be remembered as a hero in the end? I just can’t understand.”
They still couldn’t comprehend. How could this person stand in their way when death was inevitable?
In that moment, they wondered what was going on in their head.
Could it be that they truly felt no fear of death? That’s what they thought.
“Hah. Unbelievable.”
“What do you find unbelievable?”
“I have long lost interest in grand titles like hero or champion.”
“Then what is it exactly? What reason did you have to stand against me?”
“Why, you ask? Because there is someone who sincerely believes in and supports me, even though I am lacking in connections and money…. As a superior, I should do something for them before I die.”
“Heh heh. So that’s how it was…. I understand.”
The moment they realized the sincerity of Satana’s intention to pave the way for those who followed them, even if it meant defying death.
At Kaien’s murmuring, Satana lowered their head and raised an eyebrow.
“Remarkable… Let this be the point where you bow before me.”
It’s fortunate that I faced him in his old age; if it were during his prime, I might have had to prepare to sacrifice both arms.
That’s how strong of an individual Kaien was. Perhaps one of the few remaining in the empire worthy of recognition…
Satan hesitated for a moment, confronted with the unexpected discovery of a formidable opponent. Yet, on the other hand, he considered it fortunate.
“You’ve fought well and proven yourself. Now, take your rest.”
Regardless of the outcome, he was the victor in the duel. If dealing with an unforeseen variable meant losing one arm, it wasn’t much of a concern.
“A severed arm can be regenerated.”
He was momentarily surprised when his right arm fell off. However, Satan promptly began absorbing the anger that resided in Kaien’s heart as he lay defeated.
Starting from his childhood, helplessly witnessing his parents’ death.
Enduring various forms of neglect during his school years.
And losing precious comrades once again during his time as a knight.
Kaien’s heart was filled with more than imaginable rage and a thirst for revenge.
While Kaien lay defeated, Satan absorbed all of those emotions.
Having acquired a sufficient amount, soon enough, his arm would grow back.
The meaning behind his words was simple.
“Now, let me reap your life.”
There was no longer a need to spare Kaien; Satan declared he would kill him. Uttering those words, Satan extended his left arm, gathering magical energy.
Kwaang!
The concentrated magical energy shot straight towards his heart.
“Hmph….”
In the blink of an eye, Mage Kaien closed his eyes as the enemy approached right before his nose.
It was at that moment when he was slowly awaiting death.
Shwiik! Chyaahhk!
“What the…”
The moment a white flash flew from somewhere and tore through the approaching enemy.
Mage’s beam was unleashed. And it belonged to the Demon King Satan.
Was it possible for such a thing to happen? Unable to comprehend this phenomenon, Kaien strained to lift his upper body.
He could see it.
“3, 3rd Platoon Leader… Are you alright?”
“Celia Wigunoron?”
The blue-haired woman who should not be here caught his eye.
Why would a child who should be resting at home or in the dormitory be here?
But Kaien couldn’t ask Celia about it.
“What the hell is this…”
Because the familiar figure blocking his way… appeared.
Struggling, Kaien managed to open his trembling mouth.
“Ian?”
“I will handle this now… Platoon Leader.”
It was the moment when Ian Volkanoth, wielding his sword, stood in front of Satan.
Kaien gets better character development than heroines lmao
Ah, I see Kaien saw himself in Ian. A child whose parents might as well be dead for the amount of sh*ts given to him in his life overcoming adversity to become a warrior.