Chapter 345 - (Hellish) Party (2)
“Are you the rumored hero?”
“I’ve heard many things about you. Is it true that you defeated five hundred soldiers of the rebel army all by yourself?”
“I would like to hear more about that. Oh, I am Tyrande Westwood of Westwood Viscounty.”
“Oh, umm...”
Kim Si-Hun was put on the spot as he was being given the full attention of nobles that had come from all over the empire. The rumor that Si-Hun had wiped out five hundred soldiers of the rebel army plus Undead monsters that black mages had summoned, spread quickly throughout the nation.
Since the Arnan Empire was currently in a state of disorder, nobles greatly valued those with high combat prowess. Hence, their interest in Si-Hun rose, and they approached him with all sorts of strategies such as gifts and beauty traps using ladies of each noble house to recruit him as a knight of their house.
“Damn, his popularity is through the roof.”
Oh Kang-Woo snickered as he watched the noble ladies stuck all over Si-Hun. Each house seemed to have gone all out, because each and every lady was considerably beautiful.
‘Well, they’re nothing compared to Si-Hun.’
He felt sorry for the noble houses that had made great preparations to recruit Si-Hun into their house, but the ladies were far lacking compared to Si-Hun in terms of looks.
‘A hero who defeated five hundred rebel army soldiers, huh?’
It was nowhere near enough of an accomplishment to become a hero. As proof of that...
‘The ranks of nobles approaching Si-Hun aren’t that high.’
The true powers of the empire, such as those from duke and marquess houses, were simply observing Si-Hun from afar as if they were window shopping for clothes. Kang-Woo smirked.
‘Watch him while you still can.’
Because they would not be able to lay eyes on Si-Hun so easily in the future. Kang-Woo drank a glass of champagne on the table and laughed softly. The refreshing carbonation and the sweet taste of champagne lingered on his tongue.
“That aside, I’m jealous,” Kang-Woo unconsciously muttered as he watched Si-Hun surrounded by about ten noble ladies.
He had expected something like this to happen when he first executed the plan to make Si-Hun a hero, but he could not help but feel jealous when it was happening right before his eyes.
“You’re jealous?”
Clack. Han Seol-Ah, who was standing next to Kang-Woo, put down her champagne glass on the table and smiled.
‘Huh?’
“No, that’s not what I...” Kang-Woo tried to defend himself.
“You just said that you were jealous.”
‘Fuck.’
“Hahaha. It was just a figure of speech.”
‘Please spare me.’
“All I need is you, darling.”
“You say that, but aren’t there a bit too many women around you? Lilith, Yeon-Joo, and...”
“But you’re the best out of them.” Kang-Woo embraced Seol-Ah by the waist and lightly kissed her.
Her eyes that had been gleaming sharply relaxed from just a single kiss. Seol-Ah caressed her lips with her hand and giggled.
“Hehehe. I was just joking.”
‘It didn’t feel like a joke.’
Kang-Woo coughed and reached for the various scrumptious-looking foods laid out on the table.
“The food here isn’t bad. You try some too, darling.”
“Oh, okay.” Seol-Ah continued while staring vacantly at Kang-Woo, “Sure looks tasty.” This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
‘You’re talking about the food, right?’
“Oh right, Kang-Woo. Tonight—”
“So this is where you were!” Iris walked toward Kang-Woo with big strides while interrupting Seol-Ah. She pulled on Kang-Woo’s arm and said, “Are you just gonna let Sir Si-Hun suffer all by himself like that? I’ll go with you, so get those women off of him.”
Seol-Ah’s eyes narrowed. She glared at Iris coldly, and then smiled toward Kang-Woo.
“I’ll excuse myself first, Kang-Woo,” Seol-Ah said as she turned around.
Iris displeased her, but she knew that it would cause trouble for Kang-Woo if she were to pick a fight with Iris.
“Oh, did he?”
Si-Hun’s eyes shone. He took the dish from Iris while smiling. The fact that he did not like fish was of no matter compared to the fact that Kang-Woo had recommended it.
“I would gladly eat anything that hyung-nim recommends.”
Si-Hun smiled and tried the fish known as elroy. Although it was a bit fatty, he was still able to eat it without issue because it did not have the characteristic fishy taste of fish.
‘As expected of hyung-nim.’
This must have been the reason why Kang-Woo had recommended a fish dish to him despite knowing that he did not like fish. Si-Hun smiled while thinking of Kang-Woo.
Iris stood restlessly in front of him. “Umm... Sir Si-Hun, are you thinking about becoming a knight of a certain noble house?”
“Oh.” Si-Hun recalled the nobles that had come to see him before the party had even begun. He smiled bitterly and shook his head. “No, not at all.”
“Th-Then what will you...”
“My goal is to eradicate demon worshipers with my party members.”
It was truly a goal befitting a hero. Although his true goal was a little different, he had chosen this goal after consulting with Kang-Woo because it sounded the most hero-like.
‘And...’
Si-Hun’s eyes sharpened. He had not lied just to deceive Iris.
‘If Aernor also has an organization like the Demon Cult...’
He would execute them himself with his sword. The seed of resentment that had sprouted when he had knelt before Satan still had not vanished.
‘They might have something to do with the Four Heavenly Kings.’
The Constellations of Evil had apparently been sealed in Aernor. Rakiel, who had been one of them, had crossed to Earth, but there was no guarantee that the other constellations had as well. No, since Earth’s protection had been restored and Gaia had regained her power albeit temporarily, there was a high chance that they were still in Aernor.
‘No matter what...’
Si-Hun clenched his fists. Whatever happened, he would not let them do as they liked. Kang-Woo, Layla, and his other party members...
‘I won’t lose them.’
Si-Hun came to a resolution and looked at Iris, who trembled from seeing his eyes full of conviction.
“Brother,” she unconsciously muttered.
“Pardon?”
“N-Nothing.” Iris shook her head fervently while as red as a tomato. She gulped and continued, “I will give you my support, Sir Si-Hun.”
The Arnan Empire could not overlook forces that worshiped demons either, since no one knew when a being like Demon King Vaal Zahak would attack the continent again.
“Thank you very much, Princess Iris.” Si-Hun bowed with a bright smile.
Iris blushed. She lowered her head, rolled her feet and carefully mentioned, “Umm, Sir Si-Hun. You can comfortably call me Iri—”
Crunch!
“Kyaaah!”
“Wh-What the—?”
Just as Iris was in the middle of saying something, a commotion arose.
“Kurgh! Urgh!”
“Marquess Berocca?!”
“What’s wrong?”
Marquess Berocca, the noble who possessed the largest slave market in the empire, suddenly collapsed while convulsing. The nobles around him approached him, and then...
Slash!
“Kyaaaaaaah!!”
A green tentacle shot out from Marquess Berocca’s back and decapitated one of the nobles who was walking up to him. Horrifying screams filled the party venue.
“Skreeeeee!!”
“Kyaaaaaah!!”
“H-Help me!!”
“Guards! Where are the guards?!”
At the same time, demonic beasts appeared from all around and began to randomly slaughter nobles around them. Hell descended on the party venue that had been filled with laughter.